Overview
One of the most well-known churches in the country, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart is one of the most widely recognized landmarks on the University of Notre Dame campus. It’s also the tallest, featuring a 12-foot tall golden cross atop the bell tower.
The Basilica is, above all, a place for worship. Visitors can attend mass, take a self-guided tour or visit when volunteer tour guides are available. It is also available for weddings and baptisms for those that meet certain qualifications.
The Basilica is open for certain times of worship, including 11:30 a.m. Mass on weekdays and 10 a.m. Mass on Sundays. Group tour are welcome but must be requested in advance. Admission to the Basilica is free.
The Main Building serves a practical purpose: administration headquarters. But its most recognizable feature sits on top. Covered in actual gold leaf, the Golden Dome is visible for miles on a clear day from the right vantage point. A 19-foot-tall, 4,000-pound statue of Mary our Lady is at the peak of the Dome.
Reaching 14 stories high, Hesburgh Library is an important gathering spot for students. Its south side features “The Word of Life” mural, better known as “Touchdown Jesus.” Jesus faces the north end zone of Notre Dame Stadium and, with arms raised, appears to be signifying touchdown.
The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes is one-seventh the size of the famed French shrine where the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Bernadette on 18 occasions in 1858. Visiting the site on one of his many trips to his native country, Notre Dame founder Father Edward Sorin vowed to reproduce it on the campus of his new university. A gift from Rev. Thomas Carroll, a former theology student, made it possible in 1896. Boulders from surrounding farms, most weighing two tons or more, were used in its construction. A small piece of stone from the original grotto in France is located on the right-hand side of the shrine directly below the statue of Mary. To Notre Dame students and alumni, the Grotto is a special place to spend a few quiet moments, and especially during football weekends and finals, you might have difficulty finding a candle to light. Hundreds of students have proposed marriage here; outdoor Masses are celebrated regularly; and the Rosary is prayed every day at 6:45 p.m., every day of the year, rain or shine.
The Main Building serves a practical purpose: administration headquarters. But its most recognizable feature sits on top. Covered in actual gold leaf, the Golden Dome is visible for miles on a clear day from the right vantage point. A 19-foot-tall, 4,000-pound statue of Mary our Lady is at the peak of the Dome.
Reaching 14 stories high, Hesburgh Library is an important gathering spot for students. Its south side features “The Word of Life” mural, better known as “Touchdown Jesus.” Jesus faces the north end zone of Notre Dame Stadium and, with arms raised, appears to be signifying touchdown.
The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes is one-seventh the size of the famed French shrine where the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Bernadette on 18 occasions in 1858. Visiting the site on one of his many trips to his native country, Notre Dame founder Father Edward Sorin vowed to reproduce it on the campus of his new university. A gift from Rev. Thomas Carroll, a former theology student, made it possible in 1896. Boulders from surrounding farms, most weighing two tons or more, were used in its construction. A small piece of stone from the original grotto in France is located on the right-hand side of the shrine directly below the statue of Mary. To Notre Dame students and alumni, the Grotto is a special place to spend a few quiet moments, and especially during football weekends and finals, you might have difficulty finding a candle to light. Hundreds of students have proposed marriage here; outdoor Masses are celebrated regularly; and the Rosary is prayed every day at 6:45 p.m., every day of the year, rain or shine.
There is no shortage of beauty or excitement on the Notre Dame campus. Catch a football game, and witness the 125 year old tradition of Irish Football. Or take an easy stroll through campus to see Touchdown Jesus and the Golden Dome. Notre Dame's campus boasts over 1200 acres, two lakes, over 140 buildings and endless amounts of tradition and mystique.
Map
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