The University of Notre Dame is South Bend's most famous attraction and one of the most beautiful university campuses in the United States. The grounds are open to visitors year-round and reward a long walk: the golden dome of the Main Building is the defining landmark of northern Indiana, and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart next to it is an architectural achievement in its own right, with stained glass imported from France in the 19th century.
The Hesburgh Library's famous "Touchdown Jesus" mural is best appreciated from Notre Dame Stadium, which seats 77,000 and hosts one of the great spectacles in American sport on autumn Saturdays. Even outside game weekends, the campus has a particular energy — the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes draws visitors and students alike, and the reflecting pool in front of Hesburgh Library offers one of the more contemplative spots in the region. The Notre Dame Museum of Art, housed in the Snite Building (currently in a new facility), holds a solid collection of European and American works. Campus tours depart from the Visitors Center.