Since 1991, a funicular has been making it easier to reach the Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre than climbing hundreds of stairs! Two automatic cabins, conveniently operated by the RATP, are regularly maintained with repair work to keep them in good shape and prevent accidents. As of June 2025, this funicular, which climbs 36 meters in less than 1 minute and 30 seconds, was shut down, and now, one of the cabins is out of service for several months!
This isn't the first time—or the last—I can tell you. Between 2017 and 2019, it underwent three years of interior upgrades to modernize it. Since the cabins are serviced every ten years, it’s now entering its next major renovation. The work begins with one of the cabins, the East one, which isn't taken out of service all at once for inspection, thankfully. Absent for about two months, it’s expected to be back in operation by spring, around late March 2026.
Only half of the cabins are currently running to take visitors to the top of Montmartre, so you'll need a bit more patience for the round trip or consider climbing up yourself! And after all, what are 222 steps compared to the view?
Metro and RER updates: closures, work, and demonstrations in Paris this Sunday March 15, 2026
In a flash, get all the latest updates on traffic and transportation in Paris, refreshed in real time. Whether it's the Metro, RER, or Transilien services operated by RATP, construction work, ongoing circulation, major events, or demonstrations — we provide all the essential information you need before heading out in Paris this Sunday March 15, 2026. [Read more]
Metro and RER updates: closures, work, and demonstrations in Paris this Sunday March 15, 2026
