Nestled between the Palais des Congrès and the ring road, Notre-Dame de la Compassion is a small chapel in the 17th arrondissement with a remarkable history. Built in memory of the heir to the French throne and decorated by some of the great artists of the 19th century, it was even dismantled and then rebuilt stone by stone 150 meters away in the 1970s.
In July 1842, Ferdinand-Philippe d’Orléans, the eldest son of King Louis-Philippe and heir to the July Monarchy, was traveling in a cabriolet when the horses bolted near the Porte Maillot. The prince fell heavily and died a few hours later, at the age of only 32. His family then decidedto build a chapel exactly where the tragedy occurred. Consecrated in July 1843, it took the form of a small Greek cross designed by the architects Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine and Pierre-Bernard Lefranc.
Notre-Dame de la Compassion houses stained-glass windows designed by Ingres
The exterior remains relatively unassuming, but the interior decoration largely accounts for the monument’s appeal. Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres designed the sketches for 17 stained-glass windows (now on display at the Louvre), which were subsequently produced by the Sèvres porcelain manufactory. Fourteen depict saints, several of whom bear the likenesses of members of the d’Orléans family.
Ary Scheffer also contributed to the project by designing the two large memorials, sculpted by Henri de Triqueti. The most striking is the cenotaph of Ferdinand-Philippe, depicted dying, lying on a mattress. A Pietà, meanwhile, features the likeness of his mother, Queen Marie-Amélie, at her son’s side.
The chapel could, however, have been lost during the major construction work at Porte Maillot. Since the construction of the Palais des Congrès required clearing the site, it was dismantled beginning in the late 1960s and then reassembled stone by stone between 1968 and 1971, slightly further away.
More than fifty years after this relocation, the building now suffers from significant water penetration and leakage issues. Pollution, moss, and runoff have also degraded the stones, while certain elements pose a risk of falling. The historic stained-glass windows also require restoration.
This situation has just put Notre-Dame de la Compassion in the spotlight once again: the chapel is one of 100 departmental sites selected for the 2026 Heritage Lottery. The upcoming renovation project will notably involve repairing the lead roofing, the facades, and the drainage system, followed by the restoration of the stained-glass windows.
A particularly welcome rescue for this small remnant of 19th-century monarchy, now almost swallowed up by the modern architecture of the Porte Maillot.
Location: Notre-Dame de la Compassion, Place du Général-Koenig, 75017 Paris
Hours: Guided tours available by appointment through the parish; open according to parish services and activities