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Why was Sacré-Coeur controversial?

The angry debate about the church was indicative of the schism in the French social order, with royalists and reactionary Catholics on one side, and democrats, socialists and rationalists on the other. The land was seized from the legal property owners.



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The answer may surprise you: it has been built with Château Landon stone. Alright, it doesn't ring a bell. But you should know that when it rains, this very special stone whitens and secretes green cullet. This is how, thanks to this “self-cleaning” stone that the Basilica of the Sacred Heart remains always this white!

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Most tourist visitors get no further than the Sacre-Coeur Basilica taking time to admire the views over to Paris from the basilica steps and the Place du Tertre and its portrait artists. For those who want to explore deeper you quickly escape the crowds once past the Place du Tertre.

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Sacré-Coeur, also called big meringue by its detractors after its construction, owes its nickname to the whiteness of its stone (Chateau-Landon limestone) whose characteristic is to produce a white substance when in contact with the rain.

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Sacré-Coeur is one of the most visited places in Paris at night and the white-domed church is spectacular when it's illuminated. Did you know that the Butte Montmartre is the highest point in the city at 430 feet? Experience the breathtaking views of the city and relish in the pleasures of Paris at night.

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