Welcome back! Final projects and exams are still on the horizon, and I’ve been getting some good work done on them, but at the end of the day, I’m studying abroad to see Paris and experience life in another country. I can’t be taking my studies too seriously, now. So, during one of my days off, I decided to go and visit somewhere I’ve been itching to see for a while: Montmartre and its centerpiece, the basilica of Sacré-Coeur.
The first thing that hit me about the whole thing was the nature. Paris, like most large metropolitan cities, is not home to much plantlife. Of course, they have trees planted around the sides of roads, but little more. Montmartre, however, is a veritable garden, with lawns, trees, bushes, vines, and much more dotted around it. The plantlife is also arranged in a natural manner, which gives it a very relaxing feel for a place like Paris, where everything is ordered to fit the style. In conjunction with this natural setting, the colossal Sacré-Coeur stands. The outside of the basilica is gorgeous, with large domes and roman arches being common. It stands in contrast to the more gothic style of most Parisian churches, with their spires and gothic arches. I was filled with anticipation as I waited to enter, and when I entered, I was met with… well, I don’t quite know. The interior is amazing, don’t get me wrong, but it doesn’t hold a candle to any other church that I’ve been to, and it totally doesn’t keep the level of beauty from the outside. There just isn’t as much detail as other churches. Many walls are smooth, bare stone, without any decoration or ornamentation. There is some really good ceiling art, but most other pieces of art can’t compete with the other churches. This was kind of to be expected, however: Sacré-Coeur’s construction only started in 1875, and it was finished in 1914. Other churches have existed multiple times longer than Sacré-Coeur, and so have had time to accrue large amounts of art and details over successive remodelings.
Sacré-Coeur isn’t the only thing Montmartre has to offer. The place is full of shops (tourist traps included), bistros, restaurants, and parks. The roads are extremely narrow, and the houses and shops are very small, which gives it a very dense and rich atmosphere. My favorite part, however, has to be the high concentration of artists and musicians who are there. Artists sit around ready to draw people’s portraits in their own unique styles, and musicians sit outside of shops and busy areas with their accordions. On top of all that, Montmartre is located on a hill, which allows one to see the majority of Paris. All those things combined really make it a picturesque and cozy place to simply walk around in. Just do be prepared to walk up and down a lot of stairs.
All in all, Montmartre is a must visit! I was a bit disappointed by the interior of Sacré-Coeur, but I couldn’t stay like that for long when I looked at the exterior and saw everything else in Montmartre. Well, that’s about it for this post! I hope you’ll stay tuned for my future ones, since there isn’t much semester left to go!
