We like the Sacré-Coeur basilica, because it's so beautiful, and we defy anyone to say otherwise! But we'd also like to know about its predecessors from Roman times: a temple dedicated to the god Mercury and another to the god of war, Mars, which overlooked Montmartre and are said to be the origin of its name ("Mont Mars").
a) A conservative political movement
b) A religious congregation
c) A literary movement of Catholic authors
Answer a)
The Montmartre basilica was built in a very specific political context, that of the Moral Order. In 1871, the Third Republic was young, with many conservatives and monarchists in its ranks. The Republic was still very fragile, having just bloodily crushed the Paris Commune, a libertarian insurrection based on universal suffrage. L'Ordre Moral is both a religious reconquest of society and an uncompromising political struggle against the Republic's supporters.
It was against this backdrop that the decision was taken to build the Basilica of Montmartre, precisely on the site of the Paris Commune, to atone for "the crimes of the Commune" (monarchists were fiercely opposed to the Commune).
The Basilica is a symbol of the great political and religious tensions that shook France throughout the 19th century.
On a completely different note, in addition to Emily in Paris, many scenes from Hollywood films were shot in the Paris region, including La mémoire dans la peau with Matt Damon (2002), The Tourist with Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie (2010), Mission impossible 6 with Tom Cruise (2018) and parts of The Hunger Games.
The film's most spectacular scene, featured in the trailer, took place in the Dantesque spaces of the Palacio d'Abraxas in Noisy-le-Grand (93)!
Angelina Jolie places Colette in the famous Parisian café Le Nemours, opposite the Comédie Française (France's most prestigious theater) and 100m from the Louvre.
Here, Tom Cruise chases through the streets of Paris, with the Arc de Triomphe in the background. The film also features the Grand Palais and the Ministry of Finance.
Photo credits: Et si on visitait Paris, Intérieur basilique, Tourisme 93, Recenzent, Moto station