Basilica of Paray-le-Monial, Romanesque basilica in Paray-le-Monial, France.
The Basilica of Paray-le-Monial is a Romanesque church with three naves, two western towers, and a central tower rising 56 meters (184 feet) above the structure. The interior displays carefully carved stone elements and a harmonious architectural design typical of Romanesque style.
Construction of this Cluniac monastery church began in 1101, developing into a major example of French Romanesque architecture. The building was officially recognized as a historical monument in 1846.
This church became a pilgrimage destination through Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque's visions of Christ, drawing people who came to pray to the Sacred Heart. Visitors today experience the spiritual atmosphere that still surrounds these devotional practices in the sanctuary.
You can attend daily masses and join guided tours through the building, with special religious programs offered during summer months. It helps to check opening hours in advance since the sanctuary is regularly used for services by the community that manages it.
Hidden in the choir section is a 14th-century fresco discovered in 1935 that depicts Christ blessing from a spherical apse. This artwork often goes unnoticed by visitors despite being a striking example of medieval painting technique.
Location: Paray-le-Monial
Inception: 12 century
Architectural style: Romanesque architecture
Website: https://sacrecoeur-paray.org
GPS coordinates: 46.44983,4.12176
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:40
Saône-et-Loire reveals a heritage that is not just scenery. The heights of Morvan still bear the traces of Bibracte, an ancient oppidum where Gallic history was written. Autun recalls Roman power with one of the country's largest ancient theaters. Further south, fortified villages, Romanesque abbeys, and castles add a medieval and Renaissance layer to this mosaic. Le Creusot tells of the entry into the industrial age. Between ancient stones, wooded landscapes, and religious sites, the region gathers locations that highlight the depth of its history.
Saône-et-Loire holds stories from all parts of French history. You can find caves where prehistoric people lived, like the Azé cave with its stalactites or the rocks of Solutré that overlook the vineyards. The area also has Celtic remains at Bibracte, a fortified city on the heights of Mount Beuvray. The Romanesque monasteries show the time when Cluny was the spiritual heart of medieval Europe, and its basilica served as a model for the one in Paray-le-Monial. Medieval castles like Brancion or Berzé-le-Châtel still stand on their hills, with towers and walls keeping watch over the valleys. The villages still have their solid stone Romanesque churches, castles, and squares where life goes on quietly. In Tournus, you can visit the Saint-Philibert Abbey from the tenth century and find paintings by an eighteenth-century painter at the Greuze museum. Some places are surprising, like the Blanot caves that go deep under the ground. This mix of sights lets you walk through many centuries of history while exploring the Burgundy countryside.
Chapelle de la Visitation
145 m
Musée eucharistique du Hiéron
263 m
Château de Cypierre
5.6 km
Prieuré Notre-Dame de Paray-le-Monial
69 m
Bull'in Charolais
5.4 km
Chapelle Saint-Claude-la-Colombière
307 m
Maison Jaillet
286 m
Église Saint-Nicolas de Paray-le-Monial
290 m
Maison, place Guignault (Paray-le-Monial)
267 m
Groupe scolaire Bellevue (Paray-le-Monial)
1.2 km
Ensemble industriel d'Hautefond
4.9 km
Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Volesvres
3.9 km
Église Sainte-Marguerite-Marie de Paray-le-Monial
1.3 km
Théâtre Sauvageot
360 m
Église Saint-Martin de Vitry-en-Charollais
4.8 km
Église Saint-François-de-Sales de Paray-le-Monial
441 m
Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Poisson
7.2 km
Chapelle de l'Hôtel-Dieu de Paray-le-Monial
329 m
Chapelle du couvent des Dominicaines de Paray-le-Monial
795 m
Chapelle Notre-Dame de Romay
1.6 km
Chapelle Saint-Jean de Paray-le-Monial
52 m
Monastère de la Visitation
118 m
Chapelle de l'institut médico-éducatif de Paray-le-Monial
650 m
Chapelle Notre-Dame de Paray-le-Monial
848 m
Dôme du Parc des Chapelains
154 m
Chapelle Sainte-Marguerite-Marie du Sacré-Cœur de Paray-le-Monial
428 m
Chapelle Sainte-Claire du monastère des Clarisses de Paray-le-Monial
649 m
Chapelle de Paray-le-Monial
428 mVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
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