Sacre Coeur $1.69 AUD
Category: Travel
From ancient civilisation to today, the hill of Montmartre above Paris has been considered a holy place. It was thought to be a place of worship for Druids and Gauls. The Romans had a temple there dedicated to Mars. Today, the highest point in the city is the site of a Roman Catholic Church: The Basilique du Sacre Coeur, as famous for its stunning views of Paris as its architecture and art. The site of The Basilique du Sacre Coeur—or Basilica of the Sacred Heart—is known as the place where Saint Denis was beheaded. Saint Denis is the patron saint of Paris and was the first Bishop of Paris. He was martyred around A.D. 250 for his role in converting many pagans to Christianity. A popular legend surrounds his death. It is said that after his beheading, Denis retrieved his severed head and walked many miles with his head in his hands as he continued to preach. The place where he finally fell became a shrine which eventually developed into the St. Denis Basilica, the burial place of the French Kings. The very name of Montmartre may have come from “Mountain of Martyrs” in this tradition.
