Guide to Paris. Religious sites in Paris, France

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Religious Sites in Paris

In Paris there are many impressive religious sites, which are places of interest both to local residents and foreign tourists. No matter the season, you can witness crowds of visitors thronging to enter the Cathedral de Notre Dame de Paris. That is because the cathedral is not only one of the symbols of Paris, but also an icon of Catholicism in France, and on top of that an architectural masterpiece. A stone's throw away from Montmartre and the painters, working in the streets, you will find the glamorous Basilique du Sacre-Coeur. Its white façade and spectacular pointed dome attracts from far and invites inside to explore the stunning panorama from an observation deck. Another beautiful piece of Gothic architecture is the church Sainte Chapelle, with its splendid glass windows. Certainly, you do not have to be religious in order to enjoy the beauty of the churches and cathedrals in Paris, you only need a little bit of aesthetic sensitivity.

Notre-Dame de Paris, by Richard Lowkes

Notre-Dame de Paris
Address: Parvis de Notre Dame Phone: +33 1 43 26 07 39
Website: http://www.cathedraledeparis.com
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Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 07 -18
The Notre-Dame de Paris, also known as Notre Dame, is a Roman Catholic cathedral and base of the Archbishopric of Paris. The cathedral, located on the Île de la Cité, which is surrounded by the Seine River, is one of the best examples of French Gothic architecture. A Gallo-Roman temple dedicated to Jupiter once stood on the foundation of Notre Dame, and earlier two Medieval churches. Construction of the cathedral was conducted in three stages beginning in 1163 by Bishop Maurice de Sull during the reign of Louis VII, and took nearly 200 years to complete.
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Chapelle Expiatoire, by Abigail Cahill

Chapelle Expiatoire
Address: 29, rue Pasquier Phone: +33 1 42 65 35 80	Price: 2 - 3 EUR
Website: http://www.monum.fr/
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The Chapelle Expiatoire, an impressive memorial of revolutions, is built in the place of the Madeleine Cemetery, where the decapitated king Louis XVI and his Queen Marie Antoinette were buried in 1793 during the Great French Revolution. Later, according to the will of Louis XVIII, the Chapel was constructed as a memorial. The church, though not impressive in dimension, is a fascinating example of late Neo-Classical architecture and a historic monument of some of the most dreadful periods in the French history.

Notre Dame d'Auteuil, by smily19652000

Notre Dame d'Auteuil
Address: 1, rue Corot 75016 Phone: +33 1 53 92 26 26 e-mail: paroisse@notredamedauteuil.fr
Website: http://www.notredamedauteuil.fr
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Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 08 -19 Saturday-Sunday 09 -19
Especially famous for its remarkable organs, the Church of Notre Dame d’Auteuil was built at the end of the 19th Century following the initiative of the parish priest Pierre Lamazou. The church with a crucifixion plan has an impressive stone spire which raises to an amazing height of 51 metres. The church we see today was built on the site of an old 16th-century church which became too small for the needs of the parish. The building was designed in the proportions and traditions of the Romanesque and Byzantine style.

Eglise de Notre-Dame de l'Assomption, by Pascal Poggi

Eglise de Notre-Dame de l'Assomption
Address: 88, rue de l'Assomption

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Construction of the Russian Orthodox church, Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption in Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, was started in 1938. The church represents a beautiful reproduction of the Novgorod temples typical of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Today, visitors can admire the lovely frescos created by Albert Benois and his wife Marguerite, as well as the iconostas by F. Fedorov. The church neighbors a cemetery, the verdant alleys of which are a pleasant walking area and place for contemplation and meditation. The church evokes a specific atmosphere which blends rich Russian decor with western traditions of religious architecture in this 20th-century temple.

Eglise Saint-Ephrem, by John

Eglise Saint-Ephrem
Address: 17, rue des Carmes Phone: +33 1 43 54 77 52

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Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday 17 -19 Sunday 11 -19
Initially meant to be a college for several Italian scholars and known in 1334 as the 'Lombards', the Saint-Ephrem Church has an interesting history. At the end of the 17th Century, the building came to serve as a seat of the Irish priests. Its multinational dedication continued when it was finally transformed into a church, designed after the model of the Saint Andre du Quirinal in Rome. Today, the church is the meeting place for Catholics from Egypt, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq. Through the years the church has acquired a very special charm, enriched by the representatives of numerous nations that visit it.

Le Cimetiere de Montmartre, by Dollores Fallon

Le Cimetière de Montmartre
Address: 20, Ave Rachel

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The Montmartre Cemetery is one of those peculiar sites which whisper the secret voices of the romantic city of Paris. You will find the cemetery in a former quarry, west of the hill called La Butte. It is built in the hole in the ground, below the level of the street, which further enhances the enigmatic atmosphere of the site. Besides its unique ambience, the cemetery also attracts visitors with the names of its famous 'inhabitants', including Dalida, Hector Berlioz, Alexander Dumas's son and Jacques Offenbach.

Eglise Reformee de l'Oratoire du Louvre, by Sheila Thomson

Eglise Réformée de l'Oratoire du Louvre
Address: 145, rue Saint-Honoré Phone: +33 1 42 60 21 64
Website: www.oratoiredulouvre.fr
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The Church of the Oratory of the Louvre represents a reconstructed version of an old temple which served the Catholic order. It is reminiscent of religious architecture largely popular in Paris in the 17th Century. The present church was renovated and constructed on a new plan which combined Catholic traditions of the 17th Century, with innovative elements of the later époques. The hhighlight of the building are the Neo-Classic organs it houses, a remarkable addition to the overall atmosphere of the reconstructed church.

Eglise Saint-Julien le Pauvre, by Alice

Eglise Saint-Julien le Pauvre
Address: 1, rue Saint-Julien le Pauvre Phone: +33 1 43 54 52 16
Website: http://www.paris5eme.com/sjp.htm
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Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday 09 -18 Sunday 10 -18
The Saint-Julien le Pauvre Church was built on a site of an old church demolished by the Normans in AD 886. Reconstruction of the church was launched in the 10th Century. About six centuries later the building was acquired by the Abbey of Longpont and it was then that it took its present name. Following the traditions of the 17th Century, the church's interiors are modest, decorated in a simple yet interesting way. Especially worth seeing are the paintings of Blondel, dating back to 1840, the stained glass by Dideron and Langlade, and François-Henri Cliquot's organs.