Churches, cathedrals, basilicas, chapels… Our beautiful capital abounds in sacred buildings of magnificent architecture. Discover here our selection of these spiritual monuments with their sometimes unsuspected treasures.
La Sainte Chapelle
Built in record time (just 7 years), the Sainte-Chapelle was intended to house the most precious relics in Christendom, including Christ’s crown of thorns, acquired by Saint-Louis. In this sacred place, you can admire some fifteen exceptional 15m-high stained glass windows featuring 1,113 scenes from the Old and New Testaments, recounting the history of the world up to the arrival of the relics in Paris. A true Gothic gem!
đź“Ť La Sainte-Chapelle, 10 boulevard du Palais, 75001 Paris
Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral
It’s hard not to mention Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, one of the most emblematic landmarks in our beautiful capital With its stained glass windows, rose windows, towers, gargoyles and mythical spire, Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral stands alone as a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. After its tragic fire on April 15, 2019, the mythical Notre-Dame Cathedral is being restored and will symbolically reopen to the public in April 2024. In the meantime, you’ll have the opportunity to visit its forecourt and dedicated boutique every day.
đź“Ť Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, 6 Parvis Notre-Dame – Pl Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris
Saint Sulpice Church
Église Saint-Sulpice is a splendid Baroque-style Catholic parish church in the OdĂ©on district of Paris’ 6th arrondissement. Although other buildings were initially constructed on its site, the one we all know today as Saint-Sulpice Church was successively built, enlarged and embellished by architects Christophe Gamard in 1645, Louis Le Vau in 1655, Daniel Gittard in 1660 and Pierre Gittard in 1719. After the fire that ravaged Notre-Dame de Paris in 2019, the Church of Saint-Sulpice will succeed it as diocesan cathedral.
📍 Église Saint-Sulpice, 2 rue Palatine, 75006 Paris
Saint-Paul
In Paris, in the heart of the Marais district, stands the Église Saint-Paul Saint-Louis, formerly known as the Église Saint-Louis-des-Jésuites. Built between 1627 and 1641 by Jesuits with the financial support of Louis XIII, this breathtaking Baroque church was the first to emancipate itself entirely from the Gothic tradition.
📍 Église Saint-Paul Saint-Louis, 99 rue Saint Antoine, 75 004 Paris
Église Saint-Eugène Sainte-Cécile
It’s also one of the capital’s most beautiful churches: the Église Saint-Eugène Sainte-CĂ©cile in Paris’s 9th arrondissement. Neo-Gothic in style, this church has left its mark on the history of religious architecture in France. The first church to be built with a metal frame, it also boasts a myriad of stained glass windows highlighting a multitude of historical scenes…
📍 Église Saint-Eugène Sainte-Cécile, 4 rue du Conservatoire, 75009 Paris
Saint Eustache
Located in the heart of the Halles district, Saint-Eustache is one of the capital’s most popular churches. Built in 1532 and restored in 1840, it features several styles, from the Gothic facade to the Renaissance and classical interior. Renowned for housing the largest organ in France, Saint-Eustache Church hosts numerous music festivals and is one of the most visited churches in Paris.
📍 Église Saint-Eustache, 2 impasse Saint-Eustache, 75001 Paris
Featured image: @aka_opex Unsplash