Basilica of the Sacred Heart
₹ 650 onwards
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Tags : Church & Cathedral
Timings : Summer: 8 AM to 6 PM
Winter: 10 AM to 5 PM.
Time Required : 30-40 minutes
Entry Fee : Adults: EUR 8
Children under 6: Free.
Groups of 10: EUR 6
With the Brussels Card: EUR 3
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The Basilique Nationale du Sacré-Cœur
Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Brussels Overview
Basilica of the Sacred Heart is inspired by its counterpart in Paris. Constructed as a homage to the Belgian independence movement, It is located atop Koekelberg Hill, spread over Parc Elisabeth. It is also the largest church in Brussels and the fifth largest church in the world.
The first stone of the Basilica were laid on the 75th anniversary of Belgian independence by King Leopold II in 1905. Its width of 167 m makes Brussels’ Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the fifth largest church in the world. An architectural masterpiece of the twentieth century, the church fuses two unlikely styles: neo-Gothic and Art Deco. The construction of the church was done in phases, halted due to the two World Wars and finished in its present form only in 1971.
The first thing that draws attention is the massive green dome contrasted with the red terracotta stones of the church. With one of the most beautiful views of the city, the Cathedral’s observation deck stands 53 m tall. Dominating the Northwestern skyline of Brussels, the platform can be accessed either by stairs or the two elevators commissioned by 2012, in the form of a cage and two fully glazed cabins.
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Mass at Basilica of the Sacred Heart
On Sunday mass commences at 10:00 AM (French) and 11:30 AM (bilingual French Dutch)
History of Basilica of the Sacred Heart
While the initial project was inspired by the idea of an ‘ideal cathedral’, to be built in a neo-Gothic style, the lack of funds when World War I broke out brought the construction to a halt. The half finished church was consecrated by Cardinal Jozef-Ernest van Roey with special authorisation from Pope Pius XI. But only in 1970 was the construction of the cupola and the rest of the church finished.
Architecture of Basilica of the Sacred Heart
The parish church is constructed in an incredible melee of the elegant neo-Gothic and art nouveau styles. Leuven-based architect Pierre Langerock idealised the initial project, inspired by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc's ideal church. The rest of the Basilica was completed by architect Albert Van Huffel. He was awarded the great architecture prize at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris for his work.
The largest Art Deco style parish in the world, the structure combines reinforced concrete with terracotta layering. The church can accommodate over 35,000 people and has two organs between 1959 and 1965, respectively. The beautiful stained glass work depicted the life of Jesus and was painted by famous Belgian artist Anto Carte.
How To Reach Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Brussels
- Metro: Simonis (Leopold II), lines 2 and 6.
- Tram: Bossaert-basilique, line 19.
- Bus: Riethuisen, lines 49 and 87.
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