I know.. I know your all wondering where I am at the moment. Life has been a little harsh recently b...
I know.. I know your all wondering where I am at the moment. Life has been a little harsh recently but harsh recently but will be getting sorted...
Member since:30.04.2002
Reviews:107
Members who trust:89
I am sorry to say that the next few ops of mine will have a distinctly Parisian feel to them as I wish to express the joy and wonder I found in visiting Paris in July. I am sorry it has taken so long for me to add another opinion but I have had some problems in getting to a keyboard recently and hope you all forgive me. But now onto the opinion, which is all you guys are really here for :)
It 9am on the 16th July and a glorious summers day. Coming out of our hotel in Montmartre littlemissy and I (actually littlemissy;)) decide that our first real port of call in Paris should be the Sacre-Coeur Cathdral which is in Montmartre itself. The cathedral which is actually only a recent addition to the Parisian skyline
(it was finished in 1919) is the second highest point in Paris, if you go to the top that is. It is also one of the most magnificent buildings in Paris which did attract my attention (I love magnificent things and my gf is the one I love the most) so I was badgered, slightly, into going.
Now as we were in Montmartre itself we decided to walk there, which in retrospect may have been a bad idea. You see it took us over an hour and a half to walk there even though we found a vineyard along the way (I will explain that some other time all). But when we got there and saw the building all that went through my mind was phrases such as GOSH! and WOW!!
The cathedral is a wonder to behold but what inspires awe is where it is placed. As we walked there littlemissy and I ended up arriving at Sacre-Couer at the back of it and had to walk round it. As we did this the view that became available just took our breath away. It is a magnificent vista, even though it was a cloudy morning. So awe inspiring that we had to sit down and take a gander at the magnificence of it. Looking down at the gardens and the city below was a wonder and for that alone I had to thank littlemissy.
But after ten minutes we had to go inside and see what had been created from a bargain between two well off Catholics in 1870. At the time of day we were at Sacre-Couer it was easy to get in. There were no queues (the tourists were still not awake) and as you enter take a good look at the doors you go through they are awe inspiring on their own. Inside though was a marvel! I am not religious and may never be but this cathedral truly was a place of devotion. Every aspect of it must have been lovingly thought out and it inspires any visitor to the cathedral. The thing to really look for when you go though is the Great Mosaic of Christ at the end of the cathedral, which took ten years for Luc Olivier Merson to complete. It is truly astonishing. But what the littlemissy and I were really here for was to go to the top of the cathedral and for that you had to be outside. For we had to go to the crypt to go to the top…
You see on the left hand side (as you face the cathedral from the gardens) is a flight of steps. Which if you go down will lead you (if you are daring) to a view that is unparalleled bar at one other site. As you start to enter the crypt itself take note of what looks like a cash machine to the left for that is your access to the heights of Sacre-Couer.
The cost you may ask is E 5 (£3.35) if you are willing to risk the climb that is:) You see Sacre Couer has no lifts, you have to walk and it’s not a doozey, it’s a climb and a half. I think it took us twenty minutes to get from the base of the cathedral to the top of the Ovoid Dome going through small, winding staircases. Something I would not recommend for people with severe claustrophobia. However the view when you reach the summit of the cathedral is magnificent. From here you can see all of Paris, even though it was a misty morn on our visit the view was still incredible. You could see everything for two miles as you walked around the dome. I for one would have loved to have seen the view on a sunny day. It inspired my gf so much that her eyes glistened in wonder at what she beheld. But after twenty minutes (and countless photo’s) we headed down to ground level and on to our next stop in our whirlwind tour of Paris.
Times of Opening:
Basilica: 06.15 to 22.00 Dome and Crypt: 09.00 to 09.00
Charges: E 5 (£3.35) for the Dome and the crypt.
Metro stations close by: Anvers, Barbes-Rochechouart, Chateau-Rouge and Lamarck-Caulaincourt.
WARNING: The ticket machine for the Ovoid Dome has a nasty trick. Each ticket has a barcode which the gate must read for you to get access. However due to bad sign placement littlemissy and I spent a little while working out how to get through and E 5 got wasted in the process.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
A good insight into the white cathedral that is SC. Did you walk everywhere? You cannot put a lift in the Sacre Coeur, that would be SACREligious!
Two minor points of note (which do not detract from it being VH) 1. A few too many "You see"s for my liking. 2. Not everyone knows that E5 means 5 Euros.
criple 08.08.2002 20:40
This sounds fantastic although with all the stairs I don't think I could manage the climb.
Aug 7th, 2002
very helpful by (100%):
