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Sacre Coeur and Escargot in Paris
Paris is known for many things, namely the city’s food and world class architecture.
Our first stop today is climbing up to visit one of the city’s most architecturally stunning landmarks. The Basilique Sacré-Coeur, Basilica of the Sacred Heart, is a Roman Catholic church located on the highest point of the city in Montmartre.
Perched high on top a hill in the 18th arrondissement, Montmartre is a famous Parisian district which is actually its own separate village. Over the years has the area has lost none of its quaint village atmosphere that appealed to the artists of the 19th and 20th centuries.




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Here you will find a real melting pot of art and culture which offers the visitor a wonderful picture into old Paris. With its cobble stone streets, stunning Basilica, local artists, and tasty bistros, visitors have a chance to take a step out of the hustle of the city center into a charming neighborhood. Visitors are also are rewarded with wonderful views of downtown Paris. In fact, some of the best photo opps of the city can be found here, especially from the top of Sacre Coeur. This great gleaming white structure was consecrated in the early 20th century, boasting an interior ceiling with the largest mosaic in the country. The basilica is reached via funicular if you choose not to walk all the way up from central Paris. Take the funicular with a metro ticket and stop off at Sacre Coeur before exploring the winding, village-like streets of Montmartre. The site of the 19th-century basilica is traditionally associated with the beheading of the city’s patron, Saint Denis, in the 3rd century. According to legend, Bishop Denis picked up his severed head and carried it several miles to where the suburb of Saint-Denis stands today. After France’s defeat in 1870 in the Franco-Prussian War, the basilica was planned as a building to restore confidence for the country’s misfortunes. The church was dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a group that gained popularity after 1873 where revelations encouraged prayer to Christ’s sacred heart. The absolute best thing to do is to climb the 300 steps to the top of the dome for picture perfect views of central Paris. From here you can see the entire city in addition to the famous Eiffel Tower. It’s easy to think that the best views of Paris would be from the top of the Eiffel, but the problem with that is you can’t see the Eiffel Tower when you’re standing inside it! The views from the basilica are more complete and typically Parisian with the Eiffel Tower in the backdrop. Time permitting, after you walk the interior and climb to the top you can also check out the crypt below. It houses the largest mosaic in France, measuring no less than 480 square meters. When you get hungry after a day of walking and you want something traditionally French look no further than Bouillon Chartier. This is a great place to discover the authentic French cuisines with all your usual clichés…namely escargot. Escargot is French for snail, and it’s a snail dish that is a common delicacy in many European countries like France, Spain, and Portugal. Chartier is a classy, historic place that is over 100 years old and offers a whole lot of French culture in a single dose. It’s always well priced which is not always the case for restaurants in central Paris. I ate here last time I was in Paris to give myself the experience and it was delightful. I wouldn’t say I’m a ‘snails guy’ but the richness of flavor and unique sauce poured over the dish was very tasty. Highly recommend giving it a try!

Jack Baumann
Hi, my name is Jack Baumann, and I have a passion for helping independent travelers unlock the wonders of Europe. I founded Guidester - we build personal mobile guidebooks sourced from local experts - so travelers could cut through the noise and dive deeper into the wonders of Europe. I hope you enjoy my stories and tips!

Jack Baumann
Hi, my name is Jack Baumann, and I have a passion for helping independent travelers unlock the wonders of Europe. I founded Guidester - we build personal mobile guidebooks sourced from local experts - so travelers could cut through the noise and dive deeper into the wonders of Europe. I hope you enjoy my stories and tips!
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Explore around the Eiffel Tower
Checkout the view from Sacre Coeur
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Stroll through Tuileries Garden
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Local Tips
If you're visiting Paris between June and September, instead of the overcrowded Eifel Tower, book tickets to go on a more intimate climb of the Tour Saint Jacques.
If this is not available for you, you can always climb to the top of the Montparnasse Tower or the Arc de Triomphe for incredible views.
The Eiffel Tower at night totally lives up to hype. Grab a blanket on the way out and take a seat on the lawn. At dusk, the tower becomes a timeless sparkle show of lights.
The over-hyped restaurants.
While in Paris, you really do not have to spend a fortune on Michelin star restaurants to have a great experience. Look into the side streets for the most laid-back bistros and secret restaurants.
Relaxing evening meals in these joints are mostly reasonably priced and they offer the authentic Parisian culinary experience you have always dreamed about.
Most visitors combine the efficient metro with walking. Buses offer a good view of the city, but can be hard to figure out and are slow due to city traffic.
Metro:
The metro is one of the quickest and easiest ways to travel around the city, as well as offering the best value. The Paris metro has around 300 stations (their entrances are marked by a big yellow “M”) and has 16 lines, numbered from 1 to 14, 3 bis and 7 bis. Each line has a color, which you will find on signs in the stations and on all the RATP maps. Operates everyday from 6:30am-12:30am.
TIP:
Buy a Paris Visite-
The Paris Transport travel card is a pass allowing unlimited travel on the bus, metro, tramway, and RER networks in Paris and its suburbs. The Paris Visit pass is valid for 1, 2, 3 or 5 consecutive days.
Bus:
The bus is a great way to discover the city, but can be difficult to navigate. There are a wide variety of routes, many of which go through the city center, along the Seine River banks, or through well-known historical areas.
The bus routes do mirror the metro maps, so if you can get that down you should be okay. Buses operate Monday to Saturday from 7am to 8.30pm or thereabouts.
Get the Paris Pass!
This one purchase gives you admission to all the leading museums and monuments in Paris and Ile-de-France, as well as access to sightseeing tours to admire the top sights in Paris. And you get unlimited transport throughout your stay in zones 1 to 3. A free map is provided with every purchase of a Paris City Pass.
The Paris City Pass is available for 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 days.
Offers skip-the-line access to the leading museums and monuments in Paris and Ile-de-France, the pass saves you precious time during your Paris stay.
A 15% service charge is added automatically to your bill in cafes and restaurants, but servers typically do not receive these as additional wages. It is customary to leave 10-15% tip if the service is good.
Where To Stay
Staying inside the city center close to one of the major attractions will make your trip easier, especially if it’s your first visit. You can stay anywhere inside the center you find accommodation suited to your needs; arrondissements 1, 7, and 8 are popular choices.
There is no need to worry about transportation while in Paris as it’s easy to travel around the city by foot, bike, and public transit.
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Catacombs
These famous underground tunnels are an important part of Les Misérables, as the writer, Victor Hugo, had extensive knowledge of the landmark. It was used during the Second World War by fighters resisting German occupation of the city. Today visitors can take a forty-five minute tour of the catacombs.
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