A heavenly place to stay

A heavenly place to stay in Paris - Sacré-Coeur There is a place to stay in Paris that is no ordinary place to rest your head. It is, in fact, a hôtellerie attached to one of Paris’s most famous churches - the great Basilica of Sacré-Coeur. The hill of Montmartre has been a place of worship since long before anyone dreamed of the Basilica of Sacré-Coeur. Millennia ago, Gallic druids claimed the top of Montmartre to practice their rituals. When the Romans arrived, they chose this spot to build temples honouring their gods Mercury and Mars. It’s not hard to understand why - it’s the highest natural spot in Paris. The views from the top of the hill where the Basilica is perched are magnificent The Roman-Byzantine style Basilica is relatively new - the first stone was laid in 1875, and the Basilica was consecrated in 1918. It was conceived as a symbol of penitence, trust, hope and faith after the Prussian Army defeated the French army in 1870, and designed by architect Paul Abadie. The beautiful white stone used in the construction came from the Souppes-sur-Loing quarry in Seine et Marne. It’s essentially a “selfcleaning” stone and Paris’s Arc de Triomphe and Pont Alexandre III are built from the same material. The people of Savoie funded a giant bell; at 19 tons, it’s still one of the heaviest in the world and was dragged up the hill by 21 sturdy horses in 1895. Around 11 million people visit the Basilica annually making it the second most visited church in Paris after Notre-Dame. But just a handful are aware of the hôtellerie (formerly the Maison Éphrem), a guesthouse run by Benedictine Sisters, whose community is close by. The Basilica is a “Sanctuary of Eucharistic Adoration and Divine Mercy” where an unbroken chain of prayer takes place, an idea proposed by Mother Marie de Saint Discover a secret, sacred hotel in the very heart of Paris, says Janine Marsh. 36 | The Good Life France The Good Life France | 37