The Sacre Coeur Basilica is probably the youngest church that I have visited in this trip. Most of the other cathedrals and churches were all several hundreds of years old. Compared to the other cathedrals I have visited, this basilica has a more political purpose. It is said that the basilica was built as a “penance” for the loss of France against the Germans as well as a small revolt which occurred in Paris at that time. I don’t understand why building a church would be seen as reparations for those event but it distinguishes the Sacre Coeur Basilica from the other churches I have visited.
It is said that the loss of France to the Germans was a divine punishment, as such, to make up for it, a basilica was to be built here in honor of the soldiers who died. I don’t know about that but there was already a church built here and another one here didn’t make a lot of sense. The purpose of the basilica got muddled over the years and it wasn’t until after the first world war that the basilica was consecrated. From then on, it stood over Paris was one of the most beautifully design churches in the city. The white stone that is used to build the church makes it highly visible at night when it is lit up.
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