Saint-Pierre in Montmartre tells the tale of this neighborhood. Its roots reach back to the Roman era when, in the 3rd century AD, a temple dedicated to Mars occupied the same hill. Between 1131 and 1134 construction began on a humble chapel. Over the centuries, this modest structure evolved into a grand basilica under the care of the Abbey of Montmartre. The sturdy yet graceful arches and columns highlight the church's Romanesque origins, while its soaring nave and rib-vaulted ceiling witness the Gothic influence. Despite the church surviving the tumultuous era of the French Revolution, neglect followed. Until the 19th century, when a sweeping restoration effort, guided by the renowned architect Viollet-le-Duc, breathed new life into the aging edifice. This ambitious undertaking uncovered the church's ancient beauty, revealing its historical and architectural significance.