More correctly known as th Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, Sacré-Coeur is a catholic church located at the highest point in the city of Paris.
The church was built as a reaction to Bishop Fournier's 'century of moral decline' since the French Revolution. This was seen as the reason for the French defeat in the Franco Prussian war and the secular uprising of the Paris Commune which led to the murder of Georges Darboy, Archbishop of Paris.
The church was to be a symbol of the resurgence of the catholic church and a penance for the French defeat.
Construction began in 1875 with the church finally being consecrated in 1919.
Clearly visible from many parts of Paris, the church has become an icon of the city. The views from atop the Montmatre hill are spectacular.