Basilica of the Sacred Heart

Absolutely stunning basilica and a must-visit if you’re in the area. The architecture and artwork are breathtaking — every corner tells a story. Do not miss the relics room; it is both powerful and humbling, filled with sacred history and reverence. Whether you’re visiting for faith or fascination, this place leaves a lasting impression

This Basilica is stunning. It is definitely one of my favourite campus religious sites across the whole nation. The artwork is absolutely breathtaking. The Italian artist who painted this did a phenomenal job. The gold and blue colouration is an amazing combo. The organ is astonishing in size and splendour. I was taking pictures of the Basilica when I was approached by a lady named Mrs. Nan and she asked if I would like a tour and she could train the new tour guide. She was absolutely phenomenal! She left no stone unturned and went through the history in depth as well as all of the symbols and the artists intent. She also covered the sculptors and took me to view the crypt. It was an amazing tour and a very friendly campus. God bless these wonderful people!

This is a very beautiful place. Went for Sunday mass, and I felt honored to be present as a guest and non catholic. My wife enjoyed that mass the old way. I guess there were some little things the Catholic religion had changed over the years. I thought everything was wonderful. I loved how beautiful and well maintained everything was. The live choir was beautiful, and the churchwas full. I had an issue finding parking, but we parked in the gerardo parking lot as well as everyone else. This was labeled as a non visitor, I guess I sinned and will ask for forgiveness later.

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame is a masterpiece of Gothic Revival architecture and an awe-inspiring place of worship that stands as the spiritual heart of the university. Whether you’re visiting for Mass, a campus tour, or simply seeking a moment of peace, this sacred space will leave you in absolute awe. From the outside, the basilica’s towering spire and intricate stonework are breathtaking, but it’s the interior that truly steals the show. The stunning stained glass windows, many of which date back to the late 19th century, flood the space with vibrant colors and intricate patterns. The high vaulted ceilings, adorned with intricate murals and gold accents, draw your eyes upward, creating a sense of reverence and wonder. The organ, with its rich and powerful tones, adds a moving auditory element to the basilica’s serene atmosphere. Whether it’s accompanying a choir during Mass or filling the space with sacred music during a recital, the sound resonates beautifully within the acoustics of the building. One of the basilica’s most unique features is its rich history. Guided tours offer fascinating insights into its construction, artwork, and role in the Notre Dame community. Every detail, from the hand-carved wooden pews to the Stations of the Cross, has a story to tell and reflects the deep Catholic heritage of the university. Attending a Mass here is a deeply moving experience, even for those who may not share the faith. The combination of the sacred rituals, the magnificent surroundings, and the sense of community makes it unforgettable. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart isn’t just a place of worship—it’s a work of art and a symbol of the enduring faith and tradition of Notre Dame. It’s a must-visit destination for anyone on campus, offering an experience of beauty and tranquility that stays with you long after you leave.

One of the most beautiful churches I have ever been to and inside. There was a mass held after the game, and the bells were ringing and it started to drizzle and with the lights it truly was magical. Inside was absolutely gorgeous. They made sure to make room for as many people as possible. Friendly helpful staff.

It is a magnificent piece of artwork. Music sounded great inside and the bells outside brought people to church.

As beautiful as one would expect from the premiere catholic university in the country

Absolutely stunning, mesmorizing and beautiful Basilica! From the alter, columns, vivid and colorful ceiling paintings of angels and the detailed,vivid and colorful hand stained glass windows. I felt so much at peace that I could spend hours admiring all the intricate details that make this basilica. The Notre Dame university campus is also beautiful, manicured and well taken care of.

Basilica of the Sacred Heart is one of the first places I visited when I arrived on campus with my daughter. Naturally we were in awe of the beautiful architecture. This is a hard review to write because I'm not one to be moved spiritually by ornate churches. The architecture, art and statues are so beautiful to admire. I looked at my surroundings in amazement that this Basilica was in the midst of a college campus. I enjoyed my visit but since my daughter was giving me my initial campus tour my main memory is being excited to get to the campus bookstore. I wanted souvenirs my first visit. I sincerely don't remember returning to church my other campus visits. One time was enough. Five Stars rating so not to diminish the importance and value of seeing the Basilica.

The second trip was for a family outing. At this point, I wish they had offered a sign language interpreter. I went through the entire service and did not know what was being taught. I did enjoy the beauty of the Basilica and the surrounding area.

One of the most beautiful churches I have ever been to and inside. There was a mass held after the game, and the bells were ringing and it started to drizzle and with the lights it truly was magical. Inside was absolutely gorgeous. They made sure to make room for as many people as possible. Friendly helpful staff.

If you are ever in south bend and have the chance to visit ND, Please do, it's a beautiful campus full of history. It's also large, so you can get many steps in as you explore. One place I think that everyone should stop and see Catholic or not is the basilica, it's beautiful, peaceful and also full of history, one thing I love to do is pop in for a prayer and take it all of the visuals. I believe you can also get a guided tour so that they can share all of the history.

Like others have said, this basilica is simply breathtaking. Fun fact: it's the tallest building on Notre Dame's campus and located right next to the Golden Dome, so you can't miss it. This is a popular spot for weddings, so it may not be open to the public if you visit on a Saturday, and of course on Sundays, they hold Catholic mass here. Upon entering, you'll be greeted by a docent who can answer your questions or give you a tour. Otherwise, you are free to roam the space as you wish, or sit in the pews for quiet contemplation. The architecture is stunning, from the ceiling to the altar and the organ. You are welcome to walk toward the back where you'll find a small history area with various artifacts, including a lock of Mother Teresa's hair. I am not Catholic, but I can appreciate the grandeur of this basilica. Highly recommend you stop in if you find yourself on Notre Dame's campus!

Beautiful basilica! Breathtaking interior and alter! Was able to attend 10am mass on Sunday! We were able to get seats on the side of the alter. Great mass. Wonderful organ. Nice to hear the choir. Priest gave an entertaining, engaging homily which was good for any denomination. Overall, would highly recommend a visit and mass of in south bend!

I'm not religious at all, but I can still appreciate some amazing architecture. I stopped off at the Univeristy of Notre Dame during a work trip to clear my head, see the home of Rudy, and get some ND gear for the family. The rent-a-car guy told me this is a must see, while at Notre Dame. Thanks, Dollar rental car fella! Located in the Northwest part of campus is the Basilica of The Sacred Heart, this is the main church on campus and the busiest filled with tourist and a lot of people snapping pics. You can only get here by walking; you'll need to park your car and take a peaceful stroll near a lake as you make your way up to the church. Mass was going on when I walked in so I couldn't walk around too much, but I was able to see some amazing crown molding details, stained glass windows, and an awe-inspiring look into the church's past. While in South Bend Indiana, one must see the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. I mean it will only take about 15 minutes.

Stunning. I'm not Catholic, but I truly appreciate the beauty of this church and what it represents. I visited the basilica on a quiet, snowy, very cold winter Saturday afternoon and it was a calm and quiet. On a day like this, I could go here to think, pray, clear my head...it was so quiet. I think it's key to go during the off-season and in the middle of winter - I'm so glad I did for my first visit! The quietest months are January-March. The view is phenomenal, you really can't do a review on such a place and be able to portray its beauty without seeing it for yourself. Don't miss the opportunity to stop in a visit the Basilica if you are in South Bend. When school is in session you can visit anytime between 9am-9pm if they are not having mass. During the winter breaks the Basilica is open 9am-4pm expect when mass is in session. You can do a self-tour which is what we did and explore at your own pace and discretion. Or you can join a guided tour at specific times. Although it's open year-round I suggest always checking the website before going since times are prone to change for mass, weddings, etc. We parked across the street from the Grotto and walked to the Basilica, this seemed to be the only parking we could find for visitors that was the closest to the building. The Basilica Museum is located inside the church and is open year-round as well however was not open when we were visiting. P.S. It is okay and appropriate to take photos. At first I questioned this until I saw others taking photos. As long as you are quiet and not disrupting anyone, photography was allowed & there were no signs posting otherwise.

In a word, stunning. Regardless of your religious beliefs, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the University of Notre Dame is awe-inspiring, and a not-to-be-missed opportunity if you are touring the Notre Dame campus. All are welcome inside the Basilica, and the architecture and amazing artwork will take your breath away. A basilica is a special designation given by the Pope to certain churches because of their antiquity, dignity, historical importance or significance of places of worship and devotion. We were lucky enough to be there in time for a late-afternoon Mass, and I found my eyes drifting over the stained glass windows, gorgeous religious murals on the ceiling, and various religious artifacts during the service. After the recessional, the church slowly emptied out, and we were given the opportunity to tour the Basilica and see some of the artwork close up. As you pass through the massive carved doors of this Gothic Revival church, and step inside the sanctuary, you'll first see the original baptismal font, built in the 1870s. To the left is the ambry filled with vessels containing the sacred oils used during religious ceremonies. Along the walls is the artwork depicting the Station of the Cross, and the ceiling overhead is a series of hand-painted murals, reminiscent of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel. Off to the sides of the sanctuary are seven apsidal chapels housing statuaries, paintings, and religious artifacts. To the front of the Basilica is the main alter and Tabernacle, covered in gold leaf, and behind that is The Lady Chapel with the Baroque Alter. The baroque alter was believed to have been built by the studios / workshops of Bernini (roughly 1680). The main bell tower is 218 feet high, and it contains an 8-ton bell, as well as 23 other bells which make up the carillon. The old pipe organ has been recently replaced by a multi-million dollar custom-made musical masterpiece with nearly 3,000 carefully-tuned pipes, and you should really try to be there to hear an organ recital. Off to one side of the main sanctuary in one of the apsidal chapels is a very special area called the Reliquary Chapel which contains relics of most of the Catholic saints in the calendar of the Liturgical Year. Non-Catholics might not understand the significance of this shrine, but they can certainly appreciate the artwork and historical artifacts. In the basement of the Basilica is the Bishop's Museum which contains pontification of various American bishops, and also a vault filled with magnificent religious artwork, rivaled only by the art museum in the Vatican. Truly a beautiful place to visit and worship.

I visited this place on a Sat during semester, my first time on Notre Dame campus. This church is breathtaking on the inside. All stained glass windows, pipe organ, ceiling artwork, statues, and more. Very beautiful place to visit and take pictures.

Beautiful basilica and beautiful choir. Behind the altar there is a case of relics. What a blessing to attend college just a stones throw from such a stunning, heavenly place.

One of the most beautiful buildings I have entered. I was raised Catholic although the song by REM "Losing My Religion" rings true. I do not understand the alignment of football and God like Tim Tebow.

The Basilica is a beautiful Catholic Church. We were driving g thru Indiana and stopped to say a small prayer for a safe trip across the country. Truly worth a visit.

The basilica is a beautiful church -- surprisingly large -- larger than some European cathedrals. Beautiful frescoes adorn the ceilings. The architecture is superb. Mass here is quite special. Attended the 10am mass on a home football game weekend Sunday, and it was packed. KEY TIP: Arrive 20-30 minutes early to guarantee a seat. Well worth the extra effort. Non-Catholics would find the architecture and surroundings inspiring.

Good Friday mass! This was an incredibly beautiful Basilica with a great color scheme. I visited the Basilica during one of the most popular holy days in the Catholic Church, so having to stand throughout the entire mass was expected :/ The reason it gets 4 stars instead of 5 is that the music wasn't my cup-o-tea.

Simply incredible. I went into this thinking it would be pretty neat, but I was absolutely blown away. This place is truly unbelievable and indescribable. I highly recommend it to everyone, regardless of your religion.

If there was a half star rating I would have given this basilica that. My father and I have seen basilicas up the wazoo and this one is all hype. The golds were of a pathetic shine. Dogshit. Simply dogshit. Who built this basilica and have they ever heard of craftsmanship? The heart?!? It hardly felt sacred. It felt like a marginal afterthought. Skip this and go get some wings at wings etc!!!

It's quite strange to review a cathedral. But I'll make it simple. This is a gorgeous church on Notre Dame's campus. It is well worth a visit to enjoy the sights and sounds of the church. There is a gorgeous pipe organ and lots of crooks and crannies to see the history of the Church. Spend some time here. It's beautiful and reverent.

I'm agnostic to the core, but this Church is beautiful. The architecture is pretty, and the paintings are off the charts. It's definitely worth a visit, even if you're not Catholic.

Beautiful church on the Notre Dame campus. The golden dome is spectacular and the stained glass windows were breathtaking.

not much to say except that this is one beautiful church. catholic or not, you cannot excape the good vibes in here.