One of the favourite gates used by sightseers on their way to the old district of Montmartre in the 18th arrondissement is the métro station Anvers (line 2). A short walk along Rue de Steinkerque leads to the Place Saint-Pierre, where the white mass of the Sacré-Cœur appears perched atop the hill of Montmartre. Let’s find out different ways to ascent to the forecourt of Sacré-Cœur.
Four ways to reach the forecourt of Sacré-Cœur
From the square of Place Saint-Pierre, there are four main ways to reach the Parvis of the Sacré-Cœur at the top of the hill.
Walking up through Square Louise Michel
From the Place Saint-Pierre, the Square Louise Michel is a park that extends upwards to the top of the hill in a series of terraces with lawns, flowerbeds, shrubs, and trees.
The 222 steps leading up to the top can be avoided by walking on one of the gently sloping paths alongside the garden.
The square offers fantastic views of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica and the roofs of Paris.
Learn more about the Square Louise Michel.
Ascending on the Montmartre Funicular
The first automatic funicular was opened on the 13th of July, 1900 and is operated by the RATP. It was rebuilt in 1931 and 1991. The funicular is 108 m long and climbs the 36 m that separates the Square Louise Michel to the Parvis of the Sacré-Cœur. The ascent only lasts a minute and a half and avoids a steep ascent to the top of the hill. More than 2 million passengers take the funicular each year. The use of the funicular costs one metro ticket.
The stairs of the rue Foyatier
To the left of the Square Louise Michel starts the rue Foyatier with a stair of 222 steps with intermediate landings. It was opened in 1867 and owes its name to Denis Foyatier (1793-1863), a French sculptor.
The stairs of the rue Paul Albert and rue Maurice Utrillo
To the right of Square Louise Michel, the rue Ronsard leads to the stairs of the rue Paul Albert. After a first ascent up the stairs, the lane reaches a small square at the crossroads with the rue Mullier and the rue Feutrier.
To the left, another set of steps (rue Maurice Utrillo) finally climbs straight up to the forecourt of the Sacré-Cœur, offering picturesque views over the Parisian roofs.
The forecourt of the Sacré-Cœur
The great view from the parvis extends to the central and eastern districts of Paris: Notre-Dame, the Panthéon, the Bastille Opera… To see the western areas of Paris (including the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and La Défense) masked by trees and buildings, it is necessary to climb to the top of the Sacré-Cœur’s dome.
On the warm summer evenings, Parisians and tourists gather on the steps leading to the Sacré-Cœur to enjoy the village atmosphere of Montmartre and the view of Paris. There is often live music, from traditional accordion plays to RNB’s street performances.
Parc de la Turlure
Situated behind the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, tourists often ignore the public garden of Parc de la Turlure. In the past, the Turlure windmill. The park offers fine views of the Sacré-Cœur church and Paris’s north and eastern suburbs.
Find out more about the hill of Montmartre.
Could you include which subway stop to get off at to start one's ascent via the stairs?
Hello Amy, as mentioned in the article, look for métro station Anvers Line 2! Cheers.