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The self-cleaning secret of Sacré-Cœur ⛪✨

Why Montmartre’s basilica stays bright white

Perched atop Montmartre, the Sacré-Cœur Basilica is known for its dazzling white façade.

Unlike other monuments that darken with pollution, this church seems to clean itself! 🏛️

The secret lies in its travertine stone, which releases calcium carbonate when it rains. 🌧️

This natural process washes away dirt and keeps the basilica’s walls pristine year after year.

The same type of stone was also used for the Arc de Triomphe and the Saint Genevieve statue on the Pont de la Tournelle!

Source note: From the founder's own research.

Photo: Bernard bill5, CC BY SA 3.0

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