A Paris History Walk Inside the Sacré-Cœur Basilica – Photos of My Visit – Colleen's Paris

by Colleen's Paris

The images were taken on two separate occasions: December 31 when the crowds were so horrendous, I could only see the outside. On January 6, around 10 a.m. the scene was very calm. It was easy and fast through security. Because of the snow and ice, the crypt and the dome were closed. When I left around 11:30 a.m. the crowds were lined up. In December, the line wrapped around the Northside of Sacre Coeur and rue du Chevalier de la Barre. In January, the line stretched to the stairs of rue Muller.

To view the images larger, click on each one to watch the slideshow.

Metro Chateau Rouge and a Wallace Fountain looking toward Rue Custine for a quiet and less crowded walk to Sacre-Coeur Basilica - Colleen's Paris — Metro Chateau Rouge and a Wallace Fountain looking toward Rue Custine for a quiet and less crowded walk to Sacre-Coeur Basilica

Staircase of Rue du Cavalier de la Barre looking down toward Passage Cottin with street art

North side of Sacre-Coeur built with Chateau-Landon stone calcite cannot self-clean -lack of rain and sunlight — The north side receives less rain and sunlight, less calcite is released

Northwest side of Sacre Coeur and rue du Chevalier de la Barre facing Église Saint-Pierre de Montmartre

Entrance to Sacre Coeur Basilica with a view toward the choir mosaics standing in the nave-Colleen's Paris — Entrance to Sacre Coeur Basilica with a view toward the choir mosaics

Sacre-Coeur stone plaque showing the bomb map and story from 1944

Authentic reproduction of Our Lady of Guadeloupe in the Chapel of the Navy Sacre-Coeur Basilica — Authentic reproduction of Our Lady of Guadeloupe in the Chapel of the Navy

Wall Label of "History of the Basilica" 1871-1873 Sacre Coeur Montmartre — Wall Label of “History of the Basilica” 1871-1873 Sacre Coeur Montmartre

Choir mosaics bishop presenting model of Sacre Coeur with founders holding the National Vow, French and Zouave soldiers — Choir mosaics with bishop presenting model of Sacre Coeur with founders holding the National Vow, French and Zouave soldiers

Choir mosaic inscription mentions designers Luc-Olivier Merson, H. M. Magne and R. Martin; the last architects L. Macine and J. Hulot with dates 1913 to 1923 Sacre-Coeur

View of Passage Cottin leading to the stairs of rue du Cavalier de la Barre and view of the Campanile south-Sacre-Coeur Basilica - Colleen's Paris — View of Passage Cottin leading to the stairs of rue du Cavalier de la Barre and view of the Campanile south-Sacre-Coeur Basilica

Line of people climbing the stairs of rue Muller toward Sacre Coeur Basilica — Line of people climbing the stairs of rue Muller toward Sacre Coeur Basilica December 31

December 31 line of people wraps around the north side of Sacre-Coeur for entry to the basilica

Security Checkpoint on steps of Sacre Coeur de Montmartre-Colleen's Paris — Security Checkpoint on steps of Sacre Coeur de Montmartre

Stained glass palette of light against a pillar at 10:15 am Sacre Coeur-Colleen's Paris — Stained glass palette of light against a pillar at 10:15 am Sacre Coeur

Descriptive sign for the Chapel of Our Lady of the Sea or Chapel of the Navy Basilique Sacre-Coeur — These signs are at each chapel in French and English

QR Code for English discovery visit brochure of Sacre Coeur

Wall Label of "History of the Basilica" 1875-1919 Sacre Coeur Montmartre — Wall Label of “History of the Basilica” 1875-1919 Sacre Coeur Montmartre

Choir mosaics depicting Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette and family kneeling- rison guard in phrygian-cap Marseille plague victims behind them Sacre-Coeur

Model of Sacre-Coeur Basilica in the Chapel of Saint Ursula

Sign-on-fence-for-panorama-and-crypt-Saint-Pierre-church-in-the-background Sacre Coeur de Montamartre — Entrance for panorama and crypt-Saint-Pierre church in the background

End of the passage Cottin and beginning of stairs up to Sacre Coeur along rue du Chevalier de la Barre

Woman walking the stairs of rue du Chevalier-de-la-Barre toward Northside of Sacre-Coeur of Montmartre

Line at 11:30 am mid-January waiting to go through security at Sacre Coeur

Sign-on-fence-for-panorama-and-crypt-Saint-Pierre-church-in-the-background Sacre Coeur de Montamartre — Entrance for panorama and crypt-Saint-Pierre church in the background

Stained glass palette of light against a pillar at 10:15 am Sacre Coeur

Chapel of Our Lady of the Sea or Chapel of the Navy Basilique Sacre-Coeur Colleen's Paris — Chapel of Our Lady of the Sea or Chapel of the Navy Basilique Sacre-Coeur

Font with the key dates 1871, 1872 and 1875 for the public use of the Sacre Coeur Basilica

Audio Guided visit with QR Code in 8 languages for Sacre Coeur Basilica

Customers in the Sacre-Coeur bookshop — Customers in the Sacre-Coeur gift store and bookshop. For a souvenir, the magazine Connaisseur des arts is in English

Sacre-Coeur stone plaque showing the bomb map from 1944 Colleen's Paris www.colleensparis.com — Sacre-Coeur stone plaque showing the bomb map from 1944

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