Few churches in the world look like the Church of the Sacred Heart in Casablanca. Founded in the 1930s during the French Protectorate under Marshal Lyautey as a place of worship for Christians in Morocco, it was designed by the French architect Paul Tournon, who had built other churches in France. The result is a startling blend: the pointed arches, tall nave and buttresses of Gothic Revival, translated into pale cast concrete, with Art Deco geometry and windows whose patterns echo mosque ornament. The buttresses are cut with sharp right angles rather than curves, giving the whole structure a clean, angular profile that suits the modernist city around it. The building closed as a church in the mid-1950s, was later transferred to the city of Casablanca and has been deconsecrated, and today it serves as a venue for exhibitions and cultural and artistic events. That means there is no daily ritual to see, but a visit rewards architecture lovers who enjoy buildings that show how French and Moroccan ideas mixed in the protectorate years. It sits close to the Parc de la Ligue Arabe and the downtown Art Deco district, so it fits easily into a walk through the centre. Check what is on and whether the interior is open before you go, because access depends on events.
The architecture
Tournon used concrete as a decorative material, not merely a structural one, and the surfaces carry moulded and cast patterns that give the exterior a lacy quality up close. The tower and the long nave read from a distance as Gothic, but the angular buttresses, the stylised ornament and the Moorish-inspired window tracery tell you this is a twentieth-century building made in North Africa. The material has weathered, and the building has a slightly faded grandeur that suits its new life as a cultural space.
Visiting
Because the building now works as an exhibition and events venue, opening arrangements change with the programme, and the tourism board's page does not publish fixed hours. Go on a day when something is on if you want to see the interior, or settle for the exterior, which is impressive on its own. Treat it respectfully, dress modestly, and avoid visiting during private events. Photographers will want soft light, which is best in the morning or late afternoon, when the pale concrete takes on a warm tone.
Fitting it into a trip
The church is a natural stop on a downtown walk that also takes in the Art Deco boulevard and the Arab League Park nearby, and it makes a good counterpoint to the Hassan II Mosque, the city's modern religious landmark. Together they show how Casablanca absorbed European and Moroccan ideas through the twentieth century. Allow half an hour for the exterior and more if there is an exhibition. It costs nothing to look at the outside, and any entry arrangements for events are set by the organisers.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided look at the exterior of a deconsecrated 1930s church, with the interior accessible when exhibitions or events are on.
Best time
Morning or late afternoon, when the pale concrete catches a warm light.
How long
About half an hour for the exterior; longer if there is an exhibition inside.
Tips
Check what is on before you go, dress modestly, and combine the visit with the nearby park and Art Deco streets.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Architecture lovers and photographers.
- Families
- A short stop that suits children who like unusual buildings, with the nearby park for play.
- Couples
- A quiet, atmospheric stop on an afternoon walk through the centre.
- Pair with
- The Arab League Park, the Art Deco boulevard and the Central Market.
- Time needed
- Under an hour.
Good questions
Is the Sacre-Coeur still a church?+
No. It closed as a church in the 1950s, passed to the city and has been deconsecrated. It now hosts exhibitions and cultural events.
Who designed it?+
The French architect Paul Tournon, who designed other churches in France, in a style mixing neo-Gothic, Art Deco and Moorish influences.
Can I go inside?+
Interior access depends on the events programme. The tourism board page does not give fixed hours, so check before you visit.
Does it cost anything?+
Viewing the exterior is free. Any entry arrangements for events are set by the organisers.
What is nearby?+
The Arab League Park, the Art Deco boulevard and the Central Market are all within a short walk or taxi ride.
