Romano-Byzantine basilica perched on the summit of Montmartre, with panoramic views across Paris. The white travertine stone exterior has divided opinion since construction began in 1875. The interior mosaics are spectacular; the steps below are perpetually filled with tourists, buskers, and pickpockets.
Location
Montmartre, Paris
Map
Insider Intel
Climb to the dome (300 steps) for 360-degree Paris views — the perspective from 130m above sea level is worth the effort. The basilica interior is free to enter; the dome costs a few euros. Explore the quiet streets behind the basilica (Rue Cortot, Place du Tertre early morning) to escape the tourist crush.
Early morning before 9am for the steps without crowds. Sunset for the view but expect company. Avoid midday when tour buses disgorge at the base of the hill.
Built between 1875 and 1914 as a vow of penance after the Franco-Prussian War and Paris Commune. The architecture is deliberately archaic, referencing Byzantine models in opposition to Gothic tradition. The white stone self-cleans with rainwater through calcite secretion. The basilica was controversial from the start — the site was chosen on the former Commune battleground of Montmartre as a political statement. The view is undeniably excellent. The immediate surroundings are tourist-trap hell. Come for the view and the architecture, then walk downhill to Rue des Abbesses for the real Montmartre.