Casablanca Cathedral, Casablanca (must see)

As long as the French ran the show in Morocco, a grand Catholic church in Casablanca was not inconceivable. The building commonly called a cathedral was never technically one, as the city has never been the seat of a bishop. Yet its scale and prominence earned it that popular name. Officially, it was the Church of the Sacred Heart, conceived to serve the city’s sizeable Catholic community during the French Protectorate.

After Morocco gained independence in 1956 and the European Catholic presence rapidly declined, the church ceased to function as a place of worship. In subsequent decades the building was deconsecrated and repurposed, at times housing a school and later becoming a cultural venue and exhibition space. Today it attracts visitors for its beautiful architecture and occasional art and cultural events.

Located beside the green expanse of the Arab League Park, the Church of the Sacred Heart was designed by French architect Paul Tournon and built beginning in 1930, with completion in the early 1950s. Its style combines Art Deco with neo-Gothic influences and subtle Moorish references, especially evident in the facade’s twin towers, which have square silhouettes reminiscent of minarets.

The interior features a long nave lined with stained-glass windows. Visitors are sometimes allowed to climb the towers for panoramic views over Casablanca. Though the Church of the Sacred Heart no longer serves a religious function, its scale, white exterior, and architectural fusion make it one of the city’s most memorable colonial-era landmarks.