Finished 25th November 2009

1000 Pieces
Sacre-Coeur, the Sacred-Heart Basilica of Montmartre, Paris

Montmartre means "Mount of Martyrs" as this mount in the north of the french capital was the place of martyrdom of the Saint Denis (3rd century). In 1534 the Society of Jesus was founded here by Ignatius of Loyola and Francois-Xavier. The french revolution brought chaos: the nuns of the benedictine abbey were executed under the guillotine and the abbey was destroyed. The now seen sacred-heart basilica was built in late 19th century in penitence of sins commited by french troops during a war between france and germany.