Spanish Day or night this is a fantastic location to go and enjoy a panoramic view of the city of Paris. The Basilica is beautiful and includes a garden for meditation and a fountain. The top of the dome is open to tourists and offers a spectacular view of the city, which is mostly to the south of the basilica. You can visit the basilica for free, however, if you want to visit the dome to enjoy the beautiful panoramic view over Paris, you have to buy your tickets at the church. The dome can be accessed outside of the church on its left side.
Around the cathedral, you have plenty of opportunities for the perfect photogenic opportunity. First of all, there’s the front, but it’s not always the best. The Sacre-Coeur cathedral is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world, which means that if you’re there, everyone else had the same idea. However, you have plenty of other options: From the front, you have the facade which has the two guardians of this place of worship. Cast in bronze, two statues proudly protect Sacre-Coeur. See if you can spot which one of the turquoise figures is Joan of Arc when you visit.
Secondly, why battle with hundreds of tourists at the front of the basilica when you can simply go to the back? It seems so easy, right? Believe it or not, the back is remarkably empty for such a beautiful tourist site, even on the weekends, it should be much easier to capture that beautiful shot.
Your third choice is to wander down the steps to the right of the basilica past beds of pretty flowers. In early summer there are dozens of poppies waving their red petals in the breeze. The green bushes and delicate petals perfectly hide hoards of tourists in front of the cathedral. Another thing you’ll find on the side of the cathedral is street musicians, who often sit on the steps of the Sacre-Coeur and provide such a great atmosphere. Montmartre, in general, is a great place for street photography, and taking photos of buskers really captures the bustling atmosphere of this creative quarter.
Another great thing to do near the Sacré Coeur Basilica is to go and see the special museum dedicated to the Spanish Surrealist painter, Salvador Dali. Located at 10 rue Poulbot, just next to the Place du Tertre, you will be glad to discover this famous painter. Dali’s artwork is full of imagination and there is plenty of information given about the inspiration behind many of his pieces. It is a relatively lesser-known museum in Paris which means there’s lots of space to wander around at your leisure. If you’re a fan of the unusual and surreal, this museum can’t be recommended enough!
Last but not least, there’s a great restaurant called Un zèbre à Montmartre near the Basilica at the top of the hill. Try a typical French meal such as steak tartare, chocolate mousse, or camembert au four and you’ll never forget it. They have very fresh ingredients, and most importantly, easy-to-find English menus.
