Paray-le-Monial - Basilique du Sacré Coeur

The "Basilique du Sacré Coeur" in Paray-le-Monial. The monastry existing since 974 became a dependency of nearby Cluny in 999. The first church "Paray I" was consecrated by Odilo of Cluny already in 1004. Though enlarged later to "Paray II", abbot Hugh of Cluny started the building of now existing church "Paray III" in 1090. As it has lots of similarities to the only little older "Cluny III", it is sometime called "Small Cluny". Looking onto the east end, the Cluny-influenced romanesque design is clearly visible. There is a cruciform plan, here to be seen is the transept, the crossing tower, the rectangular end of the nave, the halfround apse, surrounded by an ambulatory and the apsidal chapels.