Day 6 Paris continued - Sacre Coeur Basilica

After a rest at the apartment, we ventured out in the late afternoon to Montmartre, by train to Abessess station, on Metro Line 12, popular among devoted fans of the movie Amelie and, at 36m below ground, is the deepest of the Paris Metro stations, with its lovely Art Nouveau canopy designed in the early 1900s by French architect Hector Guimard.

We then walked up the many steps around the sides of the Montartre butte 

- the view looking back down - 

rather than trying to take the funicular or the main steps up the front face due to the huge crowds, to reach the Basilique du Sacre-Coeur.

The immense Roman-Byzantyne style basilica was designed by architect Paul Abadie who won the competition to design it - he had already restored two cathedrals in France - is in starts contrast with other contemporary buildings in France which were mainly in the Romanesque style.

It took 39 years to build, from 1875 to 1914.

An interesting fact is that the basilica retains its whiteness despite weathering and pollution because it is constructed from French travertine stone which exudes calcite.

Glittering white in the late afternoon sunshine.

The ' gloomy Neo- Byzantine interior' does have a superb mosaic in the apse, one of the largest 

As expected the steps outside were absolutely jam packed with tourists, like us, and many North African street vendors selling fake designer handbags and little wooden toys and taking advantage of hot afternoon to sell icy cold water to thirsty tourists - all displayed on large pieces of material designed for a quick bundle up and get away if the police turn up - but the views over Paris were spectacular. 

We wandered around to the side to get the view of the Eiffel Tower.

An interesting view!

Typical street scenes.

On our way down through Montmarte and Place Tertre filled with cafes and artists, we spotted a boulangerie selling tempting-looking French tarts which we would have for dessert this evening.

We also enjoyed this view of the Eiffel Tower by poking our heads out of the skylight in Penny's mezzanine bedroom - the tower sparkling in gold and the searchlight piercing the evening sky with its blue light.