Sacré-Cœur Cathedral

The Sacré-Cœur Cathedral is a former Catholic cathedral on Rue d'Alger in the Gauthier district of Casablanca, Morocco. Designed by the French architect Paul Tournon and completed in 1952, it combines Art Deco massing with Gothic-inspired verticality, with twin white towers, long slender lines and a distinctive spire-like tower rising above a plain white facade. It no longer functions as a parish church and has been used for cultural events and exhibitions. The grounds are usually open during the day and offer a quiet green pause from city traffic, with space to see the exterior details, including the concrete buttresses, geometric reliefs and tall stained-glass window openings that give the building a modernist character. Interior access is occasional, depending on events, so visitors should confirm locally before planning to go inside. When open, the interior shows tall slender windows filled with coloured glass that casts bright patterns on the white walls, and a bare, airy nave. A visit lasts about 30 minutes, and morning light is generally best for photographs, when the white facade glows against a clear sky. Good photo angles are from the front plaza looking up the towers and from the garden side, where the buttresses form repeating lines. Crowds are rarely a concern, since the cathedral receives few visitors compared with the major landmarks. It combines easily with the nearby Villa des Arts and Arab League Park in the same area. A petit taxi from downtown takes about 10 minutes and costs roughly 15 to 20 MAD. Visitors should be respectful if any service or event is happening and dress modestly when entering.