Walking to and around the Sacred Heart or Basilica of Sacré Coeur de Montmartre (18th Arrondissement) is a must, no matter from what direction. It sits at the top of a hill known as the butte of Montmartre and it affords an incredible view as it is the highest point in the city.

As far as European Churches are involved, this one is not that old and it wasn’t completed until 1914! The site is apparently where the Patron Saint of Paris was beheaded by the pagan Romans in the 250s. That site of his killing was chosen by the Romans because it had previously been a pagan worship site. After his head was cut off, the Christian missionary Patron Saint Denis of Paris picked up his head and walked for a couple miles with it in his hands. It was apparently still preaching a sermon as he walked out of town. This martyrdom gave the hill its name which in Latin was Mons Martyrum or, "The Martyrs' Mountain". Either that or it’s Latin for Mons Mercurii et Mons Martis. Hill of Mars and Mercury, Pagan gods. Fitting either way.

After Denis was apparently buried on the hill (after he stopped walking around while holding his still talking head), the Kings of France from that point until the blasphemous French Revolution were also buried at the site that would become the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Nearby: The famous Artists Village or Place du Tertre where there are a ton of cafes, a little train that goes by, and a lot of artists. It’s very cute. But be warned, the square is filled with artists who want your money for a portrait. Be careful because people will stop you and begin making something in front of you and then hand it to you and expect you to pay them. So it’s best to just keep walking. Refuse any gifts because they’re not free.

Nearby: At the bottom of the hill is the infamous Moulin Rouge.