The Church of Saint-Severin in France is considered one of the oldest. It was named in honor of Saint Severin, who lived in these places in the 6th century, leading a monastic lifestyle in constant prayer. This Saint is considered the patron saint of travelers.

Initially there was a small chapel here, but with the increase in the flow of Christians, already in the 11th century a chapel was built in the Romanesque style. So, during the XII-XVIII centuries, the Church of St. Severin constantly increased, turning into huge temple, built in the most classic Flamboyant Gothic style. The bell tower of Saint-Severin is decorated with the oldest bell in Paris, cast back in 1412.

Parishioners are amazed by their beauty by the wide pointed windows with huge stained glass windows, dedicated to the 7 main sacraments for believers: Baptism, Wedding, Confirmation, Communion, Confession, Unction, Priesthood (ordination). At the entrance there is a bas-relief of St. Martin, the patron of the church. Inside the building, you will be amazed by the unusual columns that look like palm branches, directed towards the vault. The walls are decorated with pointed arches and gargoyle statues. In the courtyard of the Saint-Severin church you can admire the statue of Saint Antoine, who is considered the helper of lost things.

A visit to this holy place will be unforgettable, thanks to the constantly sounding organ, which fascinates with its magnificent sound.

Church of St. Augustine

The Church of Saint-Augustine, located in Paris, is better known as Saint-Augustin. This is a functioning Catholic church, combining elements of Gothic architecture, Renaissance and Byzantine style. Previously, there was a chapel on this site, built in 1871. The church, the main dome of which rises at a height of 80 meters, took more than 11 years to build, the construction was headed by the famous architect Victor Baltar. The facade is lined natural stone, on it are placed the figures of the twelve apostles. The dome of the temple was painted by the French artist Burgo.

At the entrance to the temple there is a triangular square of the same name, the main decoration of which is the equestrian statue of Joan of Arc.

Church of Saint Roch

The largest, ancient Roman Catholic Church of Saint-Roch is located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris on Rue Saint-Honoré. It was erected on the site of the former chapel of St. Susana, built back in 1521. Since 1629, it has been a parish church under the patronage of St. Roch, which has been transformed many times. Construction of the current cathedral took place between 1653-1740. It is known that the first stone was laid by Louis XIV in 1653, accompanied by his mother Anne of Austria, since he was still a child. The author of the project, in the Baroque style, was the architect Jacques Le Mercier. IN different periods work was carried out under the guidance of such masters as Etienne-Louis Boile, Robert de Cotta, Mansart, Pierre Boulet.

In memory of Saint Susana, a chapel was erected in the renovated church. In 1690 the choir was completed and the transept, roof and facade were completed. The length of the church was 126 meters. In 1795, during the royalist uprising, battles took place near the Saint-Roch church, after which restoration of the temple was required. The stone facade of the church consists of two tiers, the lower one is crowned with the image of the Doric order, and the upper one is crowned with the Corinthian order. In the center, above the entrance, there is a beautiful gold clock dating back to 1835. On each side there are two pedestals with columns with sculptures of Saints Ambrose, Augustine, Jerome, Gregory, Genevieve, Roch and others.

Vendôme, Holbach, Corneille, Diderot, Le Nôtre, Piron, Helvetius, and Fragonard were buried on the territory of the Saint-Roch church.

Church of Sainte-Odile

Sainte-Odile's location on the outskirts of Paris is not without reason. The 20-30s of the 20th century in France were marked by the massive construction of churches. They appeared in every district of Paris. Firstly, this is work for artisans, and secondly, attracting people to the faith.

Avenue Stéphane Mallarmé, on which they decided to build the Saint-Otille church, was a very poor street, filled with street children and robbers. Catholics were sure that with the appearance of the temple the situation on the street would change. Over time, this happened. After the construction of the church, cafes, sports centers, and parks appeared on Stefan Mallarmé.

The architect of Saint-Otille was Jacques Barger. The project was inspired by the style of Romanesque churches from the west of France. Barge paid much attention to the stained glass windows and the high chapel.

Church of Saints Gervasius and Protasius

The Church of Saints Gervasius and Protasius, abbreviated as "Saint Gervais", is located in the Marais quarter of Paris. The predecessor of this temple was a more ancient church that existed from the end of the 4th century and was destroyed by 1494 - the beginning of construction of a new building that lasted almost a century and a half. The new temple was consecrated in honor of the early Christian martyrs Gervasius and Protasius, who were persecuted for their loyalty to Christ.

From an architectural point of view, the Church of Saint-Gervais is made in the late Gothic style, but since its construction lasted for many years, it also contains fragments of other directions in its design. The last element, erected at the beginning of the 17th century, was the facade, which absorbed the spirit of classicism. The main attraction of Saint-Gervais is a unique ancient organ - one of the most famous Parisian organs. Largely thanks to him, the Church of Saint-Gervais gained wide popularity. Also of great interest to visitors is the painting “The Martyrdom of Saint Petronilia”, painted by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri.

Adjacent to the Church of Saints Gervasius and Protasius is a small square, in the middle of which stands an old elm tree. Very connected with him interesting story: It has been growing in this place for thousands of years. Of course, this is not the same tree - from time to time the tree is renewed - the old one dies off, and a new one is planted in its place. In the Middle Ages, there was a tradition at this place to pay off debts in front of witnesses. This is how the famous saying “Wait for me under the Elm” appeared among Parisians.

St. Merry's Church

Construction of this church began on the site of the old chapel in 1520 and continued for 100 years. The church is named after the abbot of the monastery of Saint-Martin - Saint Mederic, who is also buried in one of the chapels of the church. Over time, the church was constantly restored.

During the Renaissance, a new building was built in its place. Several centuries later the church was rebuilt in the Baroque style. Under King Louis XV, the church was rebuilt again.

Inside, most of the interior has been preserved from the 18th-19th centuries. But what remains of the church is the bell tower, which dates back to the 14th century and is the oldest bell tower in Paris. In addition, stained glass windows from the 16th century and some architectural details remained in this temple, as well as an organ from the 17th century, which was played by the famous composer Camille Saint-Saëns.

Church of St. Margaret

The Church of Saint Margaret is located in Paris, on the territory of 36 Rue Saint-Bernard.

In 1624, Jean de Vitry donated land to Pastor Antoine Fayet for the construction of a chapel. Already in 1703, the construction of the chapel was completed, and soon it became a parish church. The architect was Victor Louis and the artist was Paolo Brunetti.

The church faces Charrière Street and is designed in the shape of a Latin cross. The bell tower of the temple is very original - it consists of four bells and has a square cross-section, made of wood and covered with slate. The church spire is decorated with clocks on four sides.

The interior decoration of the church is very rich and causes true delight. Inside the church there are stained glass windows located at the rear of the nave, from behind the galleries a dragon can be seen leaving the church - glass work by Carot, dating from 1882.

The Church of St. Margaret has several statues: St. Joseph, St. Vincent de Paul and marble busts of the Madonna and Child. There is a sculpture depicting the Martyr Saint Margaret, which was sculpted in 1838 by the sculptor Hippolyte Maindron.

Monument to Joan of Arc at the Church of St. Augustine

In 1896, on the square in front of the Church of St. Augustine, the second equestrian monument to Joan of Arc in Paris was erected by the sculptor Jean Dubois. The sculpture depicts the Maid of Orleans with a sword in right hand, the warrior's eyes are raised to the sky. In terms of its artistic merits, the monument is significantly superior to its gilded counterpart from the Square of the Pyramids.

Holy Trinity Church

Church of the Holy Trinity, Sainte-Trinit (French: É glise de la Sainte-Trinit) is a Catholic church in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. The façade of the church crowns the perspective of the Route d'Antin. The nearby Trinite metro station is named after the church.

Construction of the church began during a period of massive redevelopment work in Paris, in 1861; seven years later the basilica opened its doors to believers.

The author of the project in the neo-Renaissance style was Theodore Ballu, who managed to invest in a very modest budget - only 4 million francs, while the facade of the church and the interior were quite richly decorated. For example, the main nave is painted with unusual frescoes imitating antique mosaics. Also, when visiting Sainte-Trinite, you can admire the stained glass windows that have been preserved since the 19th century.

On the territory of the temple there was a cozy square with many benches, on the site of which, before the construction of the church, there was a restaurant known throughout Paris.

The length of the church is 90 meters, width - 34 and height - 30 meters. In general, the architecture of the temple emphasizes the idea of ​​the Trinity: the facade is divided into three parts, the bell tower rises above the central part with a high tower, its height reaches 65 meters.

Two years after the completion of construction, an organ created by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll appeared in the Church of the Holy Trinity.

Church of Saint-Julien-le-Pauvres

Church St. Julien le Pauvre is a Parisian parish church. This is one of the oldest holy places in Paris.

It was built in the Gothic style in the thirteenth century and is located on the left side of the Seine, just half a hundred meters from the Paris Museum of the Middle Ages.

The ancient walls conceal many secrets. Precious icons and iconostases will be seen by those who visit this place. Very close to this temple there is a park called Rene Viviani. Since its founding, this church has been a religious Roman Catholic Church. It was not built right away - Saint-Julien-le-Pauvres was built for seven centuries. Its construction began in the twelfth century and ended in the nineteenth. In the last stages of its construction, it was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Melkite Patriarchate.

The original layout of the temple has changed beyond recognition since then, and now the temple is much smaller than the intended version.

By the way, it was used to meet students and lecturers. It is this that keeps the secrets of the sermon of Thomas Aquinas.

Church of Saint-Sulpice

For almost 135 years, from 1646, the Church of Saint-Sulpice was built. Its construction took so long that one of the towers remained unfinished. That is why the cathedral is called asymmetrical. The interior decoration also took a century and a half. Now the cathedral is simply majestic and huge.

The building is made in the Jesuit style with a classical facade. It was created by the architect Giovanni Servandoni. The church was named after the archbishop of Merovingian times - Saint Sulpice. It is located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, between the Boulevard Saint-Germain and the Luxembourg Gardens.

The church combines modern art and church clergy. The building was painted by the progressive artist Eugene Delacroix, author of “Liberty Leading the People.” The master used exclusively simple, pure paints, so all the dark shadows in the temple instantly disappear, and they are replaced by light. All tones are in harmony with each other, and color, light and shadow merge into an amazing balance.

Inside the gray stone structure is a statue of St. Michael fighting a dragon and an obelisk made of white marble. The gnomon is also located here - a strip of bronze that determines the arrival of Easter and spring balance.

Saint-Sulpice became even more famous after Dan Brown mentioned her in his best-selling book The Da Vinci Code.

Church of Saint-Eustache

The Church of St. Eustace bears the honorary title of one of the last Gothic churches in Paris. It was founded in 1532 and was built in the style of a Cathedral Notre Dame of Paris.

The architectural feature of the church is a combination of Gothic, Renaissance and classicism.

The temple is famous for its organ, which is considered the largest in France and has about eight thousand pipes. Concerts are regularly held here and you can enjoy the sounds of organ music.

Church of Saint Vincent de Paul

The Catholic church appeared in the 19th century. Instead, the territory was occupied by a hospital. In 1632 it was given over to the chapel of St. Lazarus. All priests were nicknamed Lazarus. They were led by the Catholic Vincent de Paul. A year later he took part in the creation of the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity. The nuns helped those in need. They went from house to house to the sick, rescued convicts, helped the poor and fed homeless children. This event completely changed the image of nuns in France.

After his death, Benedict XIII made Vincent de Paul beatified. He was canonized in 1737, but the French Revolution destroyed everything. As a result, construction of a church named after the saint began in 1824. On the very spot where the chapel once stood. Construction ended after 20 years. It was consecrated by Archbishop Denis-Auguste Affrom. An organ was specially made for the temple, which has survived to this day. A little later they brought another one for the choir.

Church of Saint-Louis d'Antin

The Church of Saint-Louis d'Antin is one of the most unusual architectural monuments in Paris. Outwardly modest and even unnoticeable, it has a luxurious gilded interior that amazes with its splendor. The area in which the temple is located was actively developed in the second half of the 18th century, its population grew, and entertainment establishments appeared. To maintain a balance between worldly and spiritual life, King Louis XVI decided to build a Capuchin monastery in the new area.

Work on the construction of the monastery complex was completed by 1782, but the Revolution soon broke out and the monastery was nationalized. In 1795, the former monastery chapel became the parish church of Saint-Louis d'Antin, and the remaining buildings were transferred to the Lycee Condorcet. It is still located in close proximity to the church and continues the glorious traditions.

Despite its not very impressive size, the Church of Saint-Louis d'Antin attracts the attention of many visitors with its interior, in the design of which one can feel the influence of the ancients Christian churches. The architect who worked on the project deliberately abandoned the baroque style that was fashionable in those years and designed the temple according to ancient architectural canons - strict geometric volumes, Doric order columns, bare walls. In the 19th century, through the efforts of almost two dozen artists, the temple was covered with gilded paintings, magnificent frescoes, and the windows were decorated with beautiful stained glass windows.

Church of St. Magdalene

The Church of Saint Magdalene in Paris is located north of the Place de la Concorde along Rue Royale. It was built on the site of the Chapel of St. Lazarus, destroyed in 1801. The new temple was built by the architect Pierre Constant D'Ivry, after his death the work was continued by his student Guillaume-Marie Couture. However, the French Revolution interfered with the plans. Napoleon I wanted to erect a temple in honor of his army, and only after the overthrow of Napoleon it was decided to build a Church on this site Saint Magdalene.

The architectural style of the church is defined as neoclassicism. The shape of the temple's base is a cross. Above the pediment there is an inscription - DOM SVB. Invocat S. Mar Magdalena. Columns 20 meters high are installed along the perimeter of the building. The bronze doors are larger than those of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and depict scenes from Bible commandments. The semi-dome above the altar is decorated with frescoes by Jules-Claude Ziegler.

The temple is equipped with elevators for the disabled. Religious and secular events are regularly held in the temple.

Church of Saint-Médard

The medieval Catholic Church of Saint-Médard in the Saint-Marcel quarter of Paris bears the name of Saint Médard, a French bishop and saint who lived in the sixth century. The first chapel in his honor was built here in the ninth century. The current church, built in the late Gothic style, is the third one built on this site. Its construction began in the fifteenth century, was repeatedly interrupted by religious wars and was finally completed only in the eighteenth century.

There is one curious legend associated with the Church of St. Medard. In the seventeenth century, the church became a refuge for the Jansenists, followers of a heretical religious movement. One of the Jansenist leaders, Deacon Francois Paris, was buried in the church cemetery. Very soon, his grave became a place of pilgrimage; hopelessly ill people came here in the hope of a miraculous cure. Having learned about this, Louis the Fifteenth in 1732 ordered the crypt of François Paris to be walled up and the cemetery to be closed. They say that after this an inscription appeared on the gates of the church: “The King forbids God to work miracles here.”

Church of Saint Peter in Montmartre

Church of Saint Peter - located in Montmartre, Paris. It is rightfully considered the oldest church in all of France.

The history of the church began in 1133, when Louis VI bought the hilltop estate in order to found a monastery. According to some reports, in more ancient times there was a cursed village in this place. The process of consecration of the church took place in 1147, during Easter week. The church has survived to this day practically without any reconstruction.

With the onset of 1590, the church was occupied by Henry IV during the siege of Paris, where his army was able to win the hearts of the nuns, thus leading them into sin. When the siege was lifted, Henry left with the abbess of the monastery, and with her all the nuns.

A little later, the fictional temple of reason, which Chaumette came up with, found its refuge in the church. In 1794, a tower for an optical telegraph was built in the church, which served here until 1844. By the way, the outcome of the Battle of Waterloo became known thanks to this telegraph.

The church is a neo-Gothic style building, with multi-colored stained glass windows, bronze doors called portals. Engravings of three holy martyrs are engraved on them. Also, behind the church is the ancient Calvaire cemetery, where many prominent people of Paris and France are buried. But on this moment the cemetery is badly damaged.

The decoration of the church can be called modern, with the exception of several ancient Roman columns located here.

Church of Saint Genevieve

Saint Genevieve, revered in Catholic and Orthodox churches, is the patroness of Paris. They prayed to her during wars and epidemics.

The Church of Saint Genevieve, now the Pantheon, was built according to the design of the architect J. J. Soufflot. This master also designed the Grand Theater in Lyon. Construction of the grandiose building of the Pantheon as the Church of Saint Genevieve began in 1758 and lasted about 30 years.

The revolutionary authorities turned the beautiful new church into a necropolis for the burial of prominent people of France. However, the interior of the building was still decorated with large wall paintings from the life of Saint Genevieve.

Visiting the Pantheon today, you will be able to see sculptures by Landowski, Enjalbert, Bartholomew, Gasque and Terroir, as well as 19th-century frescoes by Puvis de Chavannes.

While in the Place de la Panthéon, visit house no. 10, where you will find the library of Sainte-Geneviève. This is the only rich monastic library where manuscripts of Baudelaire, Rimbaud, and Mauriac are kept.

Church of Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois

The Church of Saint Germain l'Auxerrois, founded in the 13th century, is located in front of the Louvre near the City Hall of Paris. The church, made in the Gothic style, is named after the Bishop of Auxerrouan. The bell tower of the church is the oldest part of the building, dating back to the 12th century. Then the altar part, the western entrance and the chapel were added.

In the 18th century, the church was devastated, many church utensils and most of the stained glass windows were stolen. During the French Revolution, its building was used as a grain warehouse, then it was converted into a printing house. The restoration of the temple began at the end of the 19th century, the work was carried out by the architect Viollet-le-Duc, who wanted to recreate the Gothic beauty of the medieval temple. The stained glass windows restored at that time have survived to this day. There is a burial place of famous artists and architects near the church.

Church of St. Augustine" Saint-Augustin

The Church of Saint-Augustin, located on the square of the same name, was built in 1860-1871. in an eclectic style (a mixture of Gothic and Byzantine styles). The famous architect Victor Baltar worked on the creation of this amazing structure for about eleven years. Its length is nearly 100 m, the dome rises 80 m. It was one of the first buildings of this size in Paris, built on a metal frame and lined with natural stone.. The facade depicts the four authors of the Gospel, above them is Jesus with the 12 apostles and a window - rosette with stained glass windows depicting bishops and Christian martyrs. . Inside the church you can see a dome painted by the famous French painter Bouguereau. The organ of the Church of Saint-Augustin was one of the first to operate using electricity.

Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés

The Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés or the Abbey of Saint-German is the oldest once-dominant abbey in Paris. The stone church is located on the left bank of the Seine, and is a monument of Romanesque architecture. The history of the church goes back to the 6th century, when in 541 a monastery was built to house the relics on the initiative of Bishop Herman of Paris, who is buried here and whose name the abbey bears. There is no similar monument of this era in Paris.

During the revolution, the abbey was destroyed and looted; a factory for the production of saltpeter was installed in the surviving church building. The current Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés is the only building that has survived from the abbey.

Sights of Paris

In any country you can count several famous and world-famous buildings and structures that are its calling card. And, of course, France is no exception: French castles, beautiful bridges, beautiful monuments and greatest temples- it's all about her. Today, we will talk about the most beautiful cathedrals and churches in France.

Or Sainte Chapelle in Paris. This amazing French chapel stands on the Ile de la Cité. The majestic structure has always aroused the delight and admiration of anyone who has ever seen it, and in the Middle Ages the chapel was called “the gate to heaven.” Centuries later, the great French writer Andre Maurois called Sainte-Chapelle “a true miracle of Gothic art.” The opinion about it has not changed even today; tourists are amazed when they see the beauty of this structure. Even despite the fact that the chapel is surrounded by buildings that are not entirely positive, from an energy point of view: nearby are the Palace of Justice and the Conciergerie prison, which are also monumental and majestic, only the chapel awakens pleasant emotions. The Sainte-Chapelle chapel was built by order of the French king Louis the Ninth; for political reasons, he needed all the French to be convinced of his exclusivity and that he was worthy to become God's chosen one on the throne. Louis acquired unique relics of Christianity in Constantinople; they cost fabulous money, so he needed a decent chapel to store them. These relics were: the crown of thorns of Jesus Christ and several chips from his cross. It turned out that the relics cost the king three times more than the money spent on the construction of Sainte-Chapelle. This was in 1248. You can learn about those events by visiting the chapel and looking at its amazing stained glass windows, which depict the theme of the transfer of Christian shrines, and this plot is central, like the scene of the Last Supper and some other scenes from the Bible. These themes can be seen in the hundred small elements of the “Gothic Rose”. IN old times The upper chapel was a place of prayer for members of the French royal family, the lower chapel was where servants and commoners prayed, but today, tourists can explore all corners of the chapel. The chapel building was severely damaged during the French Revolution, but it was restored using ancient drawings that miraculously survived. Only now there are no sacred relics here; today only the stone spikes decorating the bell towers remind of the long-standing presence of the crown of thorns here. To feel the medieval atmosphere of this chapel, we recommend coming here to a classical organ music concert, which is held periodically here.

Or "Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière" in Lyon. The building of the Lyon basilica Notre-Dame de Fourviere, many would call pretentious or eclectic, which is not surprising due to the mixture of several styles: classicism, neo-Gothic, neo-Byzantine. But according to the architect who created the basilica, Pierre Bossan: can anything in this world be too good for the Queen of Heaven!? The basilica is located on the high Fourvière hill, and is surrounded by ancient Roman theaters. The majestic basilica building, decorated with openwork turrets and jagged lace walls, was built at the end of the nineteenth century. It can be seen from almost anywhere in the city of Lyon. It looks especially advantageous when the gilded statue of the Virgin Mary, illuminated by the bright sun, on the chapel tower, begins to glow, as if sending a blessing to all residents and guests of Lyon. Thanks to its four towers, the church looks like a fortress, and this architectural device was invented by Bossan for a reason: he believed that faith in God should protect any person no worse than a citadel. The construction of the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière on the Fourvière hill, which has long been known as a place of power, was caused by the impulse of the grateful inhabitants of Lyon. On this hill they offered prayers to the Virgin Mary in 1643 for the deliverance of the city from the plague, and in 1870 they prayed for the divine protection of the city from the invasion of the formidable army of Bismarck. And prayers helped! For this, the Lyons people built a beautiful church, incorporating all the best achievements of world architecture. The interiors of the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere are no less magnificent, because when you enter here, you think that you are in some kind of illusory world: the sun, breaking through numerous stained-glass windows, is reflected by millions of multi-colored rays, illuminating magnificent mosaics, elegant stucco, amazing paintings, beautiful sculptures . You can climb this hill by cable car.

Or "Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Doms d'Av" in Avignon. The French city of Avignon, standing on a cliff above the Rhone, has long been known as the “City of Popes”, due to the fact that the Popes lived in it for seventy years, and is also known as the “Fortified City”, because of its impregnable fortifications, surrounding the settlement. On the territory of Avignon, there were previously twenty men's and fifteen convents, which secured another title for the city - the French “City of Bells and Churches”. Of course, many of them have long been turned into ruins or erased from the face of the earth, others are used for other purposes, but the beautiful Notre-Dame de Dome Cathedral, just like eight hundred years ago, proudly towers over the city, delighting with its beauty everyone passing by. Avignon Cathedral is part of a single ensemble with the Papal Palace and the ancient Saint-Benez bridge, which ends in the middle of the river. The monumentality of the ancient church, which is crowned by an interesting dome in the Romanesque style, on which, instead of a cross, there is a huge statue of the Virgin Mary, covered with gilding. This Catholic church looks more like Babylonian ziggurat However, at one time, it carried out the functions of the Roman Cathedral of St. Peter, representing the department of the Supreme Pontiff. In general, the name of the Cathedral, Notre-Dame de Dome, can be translated as “House of the Bishop.” The cathedral was not built from scratch: earlier, already in the fourth century, there was an ancient basilica here, where the bishop was located, but it was destroyed by the Saracens in the eighth century. And it came back to life only in the middle of the twelfth century. The statue of the Virgin Mary, weighing four and a half tons, was erected on the building in 1859.

Or Église Saint-Michel in Dijon. This eclectic building, built of light gray sandstone, impressive during the day, but becomes irresistible at sunset, when its walls begin to emit an unusual pink glow, majestic and at the same time sophisticated, attracts tourists with its fabulous appearance. It looks like a fairytale castle, with high impenetrable towers and stone domes. The church is located not far from the luxurious Palace of the Dukes. It was erected in 889. At first it was a modest wooden chapel, which, with the growing number of parishioners, could no longer accommodate everyone, and then, in 1020, the abbot decided to build a large stone church. The current building of the Church of Saint-Michel, with magnificent carved portals depicting scenes from the Bible and famous mythical heroes, was built between 1497 and 1529. And a similar need arose due to an incident that occurred in 1430: one woman living in Monaco bought an ancient monstrance from a dealer in relics from looted ancient temples and tombs. Returning home, the woman began to examine her purchase and noticed that at the bottom of the monstrance there were remains of the “host” - this is Lenten bread used for communion. She decided to scrape it off with a knife, but only when she touched the bread, she saw that blood flowed from there, which then dried up, but left a mark in the form of an image of Jesus Christ on the throne. The surprised lady went to consult a priest, he took this “host” and sent it to Pope Eugene the Fourth, who presented the relic to the Duke of Burgundy. Thus, the “host” ended up in the French city of Dijon. And so that this priceless thing would have a place to be stored, they began to build a majestic cathedral, with the money of the rich residents of the city. This was in 1497. The building embodied the features of the Renaissance and “flaming” Gothic styles. In 1529, this church was consecrated. Unfortunately, three centuries later, the “host” disappeared from the face of the earth, becoming another victim of the Great French Revolution, and the cathedral lost sacred meaning. But the memory of the great Christian relic remained in medieval literature and on the stained glass windows of Catholic cathedrals in Burgundy. But, having lost its sacred value, the Church of Saint-Michel has not lost its greatness, still delighting everyone who sees it for the first time.

Or "Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims" in the city of Reims. Reims Cathedral, a beautiful and majestic building, managed to remain graceful and sophisticated despite its monumental size. In that catholic church In Reims, everything is grandiose, but nevertheless subtle. Notre Dame began to be built back in 401, and in 1210, it burned down in a terrible fire. Within a few months, the temple began to be built anew, because it was impossible otherwise, since in the eleventh century a tradition arose to crown the kings of France there for the reign. Almost all French monarchs were crowned in the Reims Cathedral. The stunningly beautiful cathedral delights tourists with its charm to this day: its openwork and graceful appearance is the standard of Gothic architecture, emphasized by interesting sculptural decoration, fashionable in that era. Just one building on the façade of Reims Cathedral contains two thousand three hundred figures, of which the majestic gallery of fifty-six figures of French kings stands out. The medieval masterpiece is not so far from the aesthetics of modern art: if you go into the central chapel, you will pay attention to the interesting stained glass window, designed by the famous artist Marc Chagall in the twentieth century. It depicts the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the sacrifice of Isaac.

Or "Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres" in Chartres. The French provincial city of Chartres, located eighty kilometers from Paris, is where the French “Bible in Stone” and one of the most beautiful churches in the world are located - Notre Dame Cathedral. This Gothic monumental temple was built in just thirty years and was consecrated in 1260. Since then, it has remained virtually unchanged, which explains its global architectural significance and value. But, as always happens, this cathedral did not grow out of nowhere: the very first church was built on this site back in the fourth century, but it especially felt its fame in 876, from the moment the priceless Christian shrine was placed there - the “Protection of the Virgin Mary” , representing a piece of beige silk worn by the Virgin Mary while bringing her the “good news.” A lot of miracles are associated with this relic, and one of them is that the canvas miraculously survived a powerful fire in 1194, which lasted three days and destroyed the old building of the cathedral, which was built in the Romanesque style, and almost the entire city. The salvation of the relic, which defies logical explanation, could not have been anything other than a miracle, the people of Chartres realized that it was a sign and began to build new temple, already in a beautiful Gothic style. A unique feature of this French temple is the presence of different towers on the western side of the facade: the fact is that it was decided to preserve the pyramidal bell tower that survived the fire, and it was included in the ensemble unchanged. On the other tower, you will see a very beautiful tent, in the style of flaming Gothic. Chartres Notre Dame Cathedral can be proud of its amazing stained glass windows, the area of ​​which reaches two thousand six hundred square meters. Stained glass windows were created from the twelfth to the thirteenth centuries, but unfortunately, the secret of their creation was lost in those distant times, however, we had the honor of seeing the best collection of European stained glass art. And yet, the cathedral attracts with its amazing rose windows: which, refracting the rays of the sun, throw multi-colored lightning across the interior of the cathedral, only complementing the splendor of its decoration. On the floor of Chartres Cathedral you will see a labyrinth - a symbol of wandering human soul on the way to God. Its length is two hundred and sixty-two meters. There is a tradition to this day: if you want to repent and ask higher powers for forgiveness for your sins, then like a medieval pilgrim, overcome this path on your knees, and God will have mercy on you.

Or "Notre Dame de Amiens" in Amiens. In the capital of the French region of Picardy - the city of Amiens, there is an amazing and very impressive Notre Dame Cathedral. Construction began back in 1220 in honor of Saint Jean Baptiste: the fact is that his head was brought by the crusading knights from the Fourth Crusade in 1206. Surprisingly, the relics of the Christian Saint are still kept here, attracting hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from all over the world to Amiens. Notre Dame Cathedral in Amiens is not just one of the most beautiful French churches, but also a true embodiment of perfect beauty, as well as a medieval masterpiece of engineering. The building was erected in the classic Gothic style, but some design elements still lean towards the flaming Gothic style. The stunning facade of Amiens Cathedral is in no way inferior in splendor Paris Notre Dame: it also has grandiose dimensions, an openwork rose window, three high portals, a Gallery of Kings, consisting of twenty-two giant statues, which are French kings, but symbolizing the kings of Judea. The cathedral is also remarkable inside, it is grandiose and majestic: a very tall, long hall, with one hundred and twenty-six thin columns on which the central nave rests, as if it elevates and brings anyone who enters it closer to God. Ideal proportions and perfection can be seen in all details. Inside the cathedral you will see the figure of the “Weeping Angel”, who sadly bends over a human skull, mourning the stupidity of the human race. This sculptural composition was created by Nicolas Blasset. At Amiens Cathedral you can see stunning carved benches, with images of more than four thousand mythical, biblical, and real characters, which were created by wood carvers in the sixteenth century. It is believed that Amiens Cathedral is greatest creation the art of architecture, and not every cathedral can outshine its beauty.

Or Sacre Coeur, Paris. For a long time, poor representatives of French bohemia settled on the Montmartre hill in the suburbs of Paris: artists, musicians, writers. And, first of all, this place attracted them with its cheapness. But it was these people who were able to radically change our ideas about art. Today, the Montmartre hill, located in the eighteenth arrondissement of Paris, is not only its highest point, but also the place where the inimitable and magnificent Basilica of the Sacred Heart - Sacre Coeur stands, and from where breathtaking views of the city open. The name of this hill is translated as “Mountain of Martyrs”: it takes us back to the ancient history of Christianity, but continues to remain relevant in the twenty-first century: for two centuries in a row, brilliant masters settled in Montmartre, often dying in hunger and poverty, becoming recognized geniuses and creators only after death. Despite the fact that today Montmartre is a prestigious district of Paris, the spirit of provincialism has been preserved here: poor artists painting on the street, poor street musicians, bars and cabarets and a lot of tourists who want to see with their own eyes the amazing architectural dominant of Montmartre - the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, which was erected in honor of the Sacred Heart of Christ. This huge church, shimmering in a milky pink color, is visible from all over Paris. It, along with the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, is a real symbol of the city. You can climb to the Sacré-Coeur Basilica on foot, climbing several hundred steps, or by taking a funicular. This French church absorbed elements of two styles - Romanesque and Byzantine. It is especially beautiful at night, when the lights come on: Sacre Coeur becomes similar to one of the fantastic palaces of ancient Byzantium. In the evenings, on the numerous steps of the church, numerous groups of tourists, local residents, musicians meet, they drink, sing, have fun, and the statue of Jesus Christ sternly looks down on them from the central facade of the basilica.

Or "Notre Dame de Paris" in Paris. This cathedral, located on the Ile de la Cité, in the middle of the Seine River, is the heart of Paris. Notre-Dame de Paris is a monumental building famous for its fantastic beauty. The cathedral grew up on the site of the very first Christian basilica in Paris, and it, in turn, was built on the ruins of an ancient Roman temple. Notre Dame Cathedral was founded in 1163, and it was built and increased in size until the nineteenth century, becoming a silent witness to all great and terrible events French history: St. Bartholomew's Night, the Great French Revolution, the rise to power of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and so on. This is a Gothic cathedral with elements of Romanesque style. The building, although huge, is proportional. By the way, the cathedral reaches almost seventy meters in height, but next to it you don’t feel small, but, on the contrary, as if you grow spiritually, encouraged by power divine power and the incredible energy of this place. Getting acquainted with the western facade of the cathedral, which displays the “Bible in Stone”, you are amazed at the scope and imagination of the architects: an amazing rose window, a grand gallery with twenty-eight figures of biblical kings, a scene of the Last Judgment inscribed on the central portal, famous figures of chimeras and gargoyles, images saints, mythical creatures, ordinary people. The cathedral contains important Christian shrine- Christ's crown of thorns. The famous writer Victor Hugo created an entire novel about this majestic temple, but even he failed to fully convey the feelings that overcome a person standing in front of Notre Dame Cathedral.

Or "Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Rouen" in Rouen. This ancient Catholic cathedral, which is the most high temple France, is considered the country's great national monument and a true Gothic masterpiece. The French city of Rouen has long been called the “City of a Hundred Spires”, because it has many tall buildings with spiers, but the Rouen Cathedral surpasses them in its beauty. It was even immortalized by the artist Claude Monet in his paintings. Height of Rouen cathedral- one hundred fifty-one meters. The massive walls of this cathedral stretch along the Rue San Romano, which in the Middle Ages was considered the most prestigious in Rouen. This cathedral arose on the site of an ancient Christian basilica of the fourth century, which arose here after Bishop Mellon came to these parts and began preaching Christianity among the local residents. By the ninth century, a fairly large episcopal courtyard had formed here, which included two churches, the Cathedral in honor of the Mother of God, and the baptistery, but all this was razed to the ground by the Viking hordes that attacked the city of Rouen in 841. They left behind only ashes. And then, King Charles III the Simple, who ruled France in those years, in 911, having made concessions to the conquerors, agreed to Normandy becoming a duchy and married his daughter Gisela to the Viking leader Rolland the Pedestrian, and he, in turn, accepted baptism, taking the name Robert. This is how the dynasty of the Dukes of Normandy appeared, and France protected itself from a new attack by the formidable northern conquerors of the seas. Duke Robert, in 1020, began construction of the majestic Catholic Cathedral in the Romanesque style, his work was continued by his heirs. Unfortunately, only one crypt remains from that structure to this day. The oldest tower of the Raun Cathedral is the San Romain Tower, which is eight centuries old and was built in 1145. The cathedral was often destroyed due to natural disasters, human carelessness, for example, one nave burned down in a fire in the Middle Ages, in the eighteenth century the cathedral building suffered from a severe hurricane, and of course, one of the saddest pages in the history of the cathedral was the bombing of 1944 , which lasted throughout the whole night, during which the side tower was damaged; it fell on its side, damaging several load-bearing columns. But, fortunately, the cathedral did not fall apart, but miraculously stood until its restoration and restoration began, which lasted about twelve years. In our time, namely in 1999, the Rouen Cathedral was damaged by a strong storm when the elements damaged its bells, and in 2000 another tower collapsed, but since it happened at five in the morning, no one was injured. This ancient structure, created as if from stone lace, with amazing stained glass windows and a high spire, attracts thousands of tourists. By the way, inside the temple there is the tomb of the first Duke of Normandy, Rolland the Pedestrian, as well as the sarcophagus of King Richard the First or Richard the Lionheart, but the sarcophagus does not contain the entire body of the English king, who was also the Duke of Normandy, in the period from 1189 to 1199, but only his heart.

– a country where the most beautiful and amazing basilicas, cathedrals, churches, chapels and temples are concentrated. You probably noticed that every more or less significant city in this country necessarily has its own Notre Dame Cathedral, and there is nothing unusual in this, because the French are Catholics, and they mother of God is revered even more than Jesus Christ, so they erect large-scale religious buildings, dedicating them to the Virgin Mary. Regardless of who the temple or cathedral is dedicated to, each of them is stunning and magnificent, and we have only talked about a small part of the most beautiful cathedrals in France.

According to some sources, the history of France dates back to the Iron Age. Over the centuries, the most architecturally significant churches. Gothic cathedrals and churches built by modern architects reflect a significant part of French culture. While visiting this amazing country, be sure to see the most beautiful and unusual churches France!

A Roman Catholic cathedral in the French Gothic style was built in Bourges in the 13th century. The site on which it is located has had religious significance since at least the 3rd century. Today, the cathedral boasts three-story elevations and a grand façade decorated with intricate carvings. Incredibly, most of the original stained glass windows, depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments, have been preserved.

Strasbourg Cathedral is sometimes called the Pink Cathedral, alluding to its unusual hue. The cathedral is built from sandstone, which gives it its pink color. On one side of the building there is a tall spire, although according to the design there should have been two. The architecture is both Romanesque and Gothic. Services are still held in the cathedral, which you can visit. Inside, be sure to find the astronomical clock, which dates back to the 19th century.

The town of Aubterre-sur-Dronne is small and picturesque, with traditional architecture and quaint houses. But the city's most incredible attraction is located underground. This is a monolithic Saint-Jean church, almost entirely carved from limestone. It was built in the 7th century and significantly expanded in the 12th century. The church has a vaulted nave, a baptismal pool and dozens of ancient burial grounds. Although this is far from a traditional French church, it is truly unique and one of a kind.

The city of Rouen is sometimes called the City of a Thousand Churches because there are so many of them. But the Rouen Cathedral stands out among them: it is the tallest in France. Listen to the hour bells chime on the giant 56-color carillon, marvel at the incredible staircase, and see the statues of saints adorning the cathedral's interior walls.

The Sacré-Coeur Basilica is one of the most famous churches in Paris. It is very visited due to its location on a hill overlooking the famous Montmartre district. The church was designed in the Roman-Byzantine style, and is very similar to the famous Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. One of the main features of Sacre Coeur is the huge mosaic of Jesus with a heart of gold.

The beauty of the abbey largely depends on its location. The island of Mont Saint-Michel is only half a mile off the coast of Normandy, making access limited. Most of the island is occupied by an abbey built in the 15th century. Benedictine monks live here. The abbey is surrounded by quaint streets lined with museums dedicated to the history of the island, cafes and shops.

More than 800 years ago, construction began on Reims Cathedral. Today it is a stunning example of Gothic architecture and a major landmark in Reims. It was in this cathedral that many French kings were crowned. Records show that Joan of Arc attended one of these ceremonies in the 15th century. It took almost a century to complete the construction of the cathedral!

The most famous cathedral in France - Notre Dame de Paris - was built in the middle of the 12th century. The pearl of Parisian architecture is built in the Gothic style and has an incredible big sizes. His "flying" buttresses were among the first in the world, and many gargoyles were used not only for design, but also to support columns and even as gutters. When visiting the cathedral, try to visit the extensive crypts below the church, which are open to the public.

Based on materials from: touropia.com

Notre Dame de Paris— Notre Dame Cathedral. The most famous church in Paris. The cathedral is located on the site of the first christian church Paris - St. Basilica Stefan. Before it, the Gallo-Roman temple of Jupiter was located on the same site.

Construction of the cathedral lasted from 1163 to 1345. The cathedral, with its magnificent interior decoration, served as a venue for royal weddings, imperial coronations and national funerals for many centuries. In 1302, the States General, the first parliament of France, met there for the first time. During the French Revolution, the cathedral became the Temple of Reason. The cathedral was returned to the church and re-consecrated in 1802, under Napoleon.

Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre

Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre- this snow-white basilica has become a symbol. The name literally means Basilica of the Sacred Heart (meaning the Heart of Christ). It was built in 1876 - 1914 according to the design of the architect P. Abadi in the Roman-Byzantine style, located on the top, at the highest point (130 m) of the city. The original idea was to build a temple in memory of the victims of the Franco-Prussian War. When the first stone was laid (June 16, 1875), a bronze medallion “France presents the Montmartre Basilica to Christ,” a box with French medals, and a parchment with the protocol of the founding ceremony of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica were placed in the soil of the hill.

La Madeleine

La Madeleine is a church in the style of a Greco-Roman temple, the prototype of which was in. The temple is illuminated through the vault: unlike other temples, the church has neither a transept nor side windows. On the pediment of the main facade there is a sculptural group " Last Judgment» by Philippe Honoré Lemaire.

The construction of the church took 85 years due to the unstable political situation in France at the end of the 18th century. early XIX centuries. Construction began under the leadership of the architect Contan d'Ivry under Louis XV, in whose honor the Place de la Concorde and its surroundings were designed, and who personally laid the first stone future church.

The original design was likened to the Church of St. Louis in the Invalides - a cruciform structure with a dome. After d’Ivry’s death, the work was continued by Couture, who proposed taking the building as a model. In 1790, construction was suspended due to disagreements over the purpose of the building. In 1806, Napoleon commissioned the architect Vignon to build a hall of glory for the imperial Grande Armée. Everything that was built before was demolished. In 1814, Louis XVIII wished that the building being erected become a church in memory of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. In 1837, the city administration planned to turn the building into a station for the first passenger railway connecting Paris and, but these plans were not destined to come true. In 1842, the church was completed and consecrated.

Church of Saint-Madeleine

- Church of Our Lady of Loreto. This territory began to be actively developed in the 20s of the 19th century. The new district needed a church, and in 1832 a competition for construction was announced, which was won by the architect Louis Hippolyte Lebas. Since the church is thematically connected with Italy, according to the architect’s plan, its appearance should contain features of Italian classicism, and certain architectural solutions imitate the Roman Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. The church was built between 1823 and 1836. Since the architect’s separate task was to effectively close off the perspective of Laffitte Street, the façade and portico turned out to be slightly disproportionate to the main volume of the building. When built on top of the gigantic Basilica of the Sacred Heart in 1919, it completely eclipsed Notre-Dame de Lorette.

is a small church in . It was built on the site of a previous church, founded in 1285 by the “white order” of Augustinian monks. The current building was built in the period 1685-1690.

— the Church of Saint-Ambrois gave its name to the whole quarter located around it. It is located at 71 Boulevard Voltaire. Construction of the church lasted from 1863 to 1868, shortly after the construction of Voltaire Boulevard. It replaced the previous church, Notre-Dame de la Procession, which was too close to the new street. The architect of the new building was Theodore Balou. On March 18, 1996, the church was occupied by 300 African immigrants demanding regularization of their immigration status.

— the Church of Saint-Augustin is located near the square of the same name. In the mid-19th century, the appearance of Paris changed significantly during the active construction of direct highways and new buildings. This caused an influx of population and required the construction of a new church for their needs. The construction of the church was entrusted to Victor Baltard, the architect of Les Halles.

Construction of the temple began in 1860 and was completed 11 years later. The main problem facing the builders was the need to fit the church into the V-shaped space between the streets. The problem was solved using technology that was new for that time - the church was assembled from metal trusses and lined with stone. The resulting church shows features of Romanesque and Byzantine styles.

— The Basilica of Saint Clotilde is located in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés area, the façade of the temple faces La Casa Street. The original design of the neo-Gothic church was carried out by the architect Christian Go. Construction of the building began in 1846. After his death in 1853, Theodore Ballew continued the work. The churches were consecrated in honor of St. Clotilde, wife of the Frankish king Clovis, and the holy martyr Valeria of Limoges.

Saint-Denis

Saint-Denis- the Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Denis is located in the north of Paris, in the nearest. It was the main monastery of medieval France. According to legend, the first bishop of Paris, Saint Dionysius of Paris (often identified with Dionysius the Areopagite), came here with his severed head in his hands.

In 475, with the blessing of Saint Genevieve, the first basilica was built over the tomb of the saint. Under King Dagobert I, a Benedictine monastery was founded here, and in 630 the basilica was rebuilt and became the main temple of the monastery.

The abbey reached its greatest prosperity during the time of Abbot Suger, with whose participation in 1137-1144. The monastery church was built - the first building in the Gothic style, which influenced development in France. At the beginning of the 13th century. Louis IX the Saint ordered the ashes of his ancestors to be transferred to the basilica and tombstones created for them. From that moment on, the church served as the tomb of the French kings. The abbey, where almost all the kings of France, as well as members of their families, are buried, is often called the “royal necropolis of France.” 25 French kings (since Dagobert I, † 638), 10 queens and 84 princes and princesses are buried here.

Interior of Saint Denis Cathedral

Saint-Étienne-du-Mont

Saint-Étienne-du-Mont— the name of the church literally translates as “St. Stephen-on-the-Mountain.” The church is located on the hill of St. Genevieve. Its construction lasted more than a century and ended in 1622-1626 with the construction of the facade. The facade was completed at the beginning of the 17th century at the expense of Marguerite de Valois. Curly stained glass windows were made at the same time. In 1626, the new temple was consecrated by Parisian Archbishop Jean-François de Gondi. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Church of St. Stefana enjoyed great success from the Parisians. The relics of St. were regularly transported here from the abbey. Genevieve. In 1744, Louis XV decided to move the abbey.

During the French Revolution, the church was secularized and a little later significantly destroyed to make way for a new street. With the arrival of Napoleon, the churches were returned to their original religious activities, and the Church of Saint-Etienne was restored.

Saint-Eustache

Saint-Eustache- Church of St. Eustathia is located in the center of Paris. This is one of the last Gothic churches in Gorol, in which Renaissance forms and a classical façade are already evident. Construction of the church began in 1532 according to the plan of the architect Lemercier, who took Notre Dame Cathedral as an example. The nave, northern chapels and southern facade were erected. In the 17th century, the southern chapels and vaults of the nave were completed, but under the influence of the Renaissance style. In the 18th century, the facade was rebuilt in a new fashion in the style of classicism, for which the first span of the church with two chapels was destroyed.

The church is famous for its organ: it has more pipes than any other organ in France (about 8,000). The modern version of the organ was installed in 1989, using part of the pipes of the old instrument.

is the oldest Benedictine abbey in Paris, a monument of Romanesque architecture.

The Frankish Merovingian king Childebert I took from Spain a relic dear to the Visigoths, the so-called tunic of Saint Vincent, a deacon of the Zaragoza church who suffered martyrdom during the persecution of Christians under the Roman emperor Diocletian. Childebert ordered her to be nailed to the gates of Paris, but on the advice of the Parisian bishop of St. Herman of Paris (496-576) founded a monastery in 541 to house the relics of St. Vincent of Zaragoza. The name of the bishop buried in this monastery, pronounced "Germain" in French, was given to the abbey in 576.

Today, only the church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, considered the oldest in Paris, has survived from the old monastery. The bell tower and nave of the church are made in the Romanesque style and date back to the 11th-12th centuries. Saint-Germain-des-Prés was one of the richest monasteries in France in the Middle Ages.

- Church of Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois, or Church of St. Herman (Germain) of Auxerre is located east of the Louvre. It is consecrated in honor of the Christian saint Herman of Auxerre (c. 378-448), a Gallo-Roman bishop, one of the most revered saints in France.

The church has been rebuilt many times since its construction in the 12th century. During its time as a royal palace, Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois served as a parish church for the Valois dynasty. The bell tower is the little that has survived from the original building. This church is a fine example of the Flamboyant Gothic style. Inside the church is the most famous stained glass rose of the Renaissance period and, in total, there are 78 m of stained glass.

The organ was commissioned by Louis XVI for the Sainte-Chapelle. The church also houses other works of art, including a carved Flemish altarpiece depicting scenes from the life of Christ and statues of Saints Germain and Vincent (15th century).

Most of the artists and sculptors who lived in the Louvre during the 16th-18th centuries are buried here.

— Saint-Julien-le-Pauvres is considered one of the oldest and smallest churches in Paris. It was built on the site of either a Merovingian pilgrimage shelter or old church 6th century. Construction of the current building began in 1165 - 1170. The church was related to the University of Paris, since meetings of the Faculty of Theology and Arts were held within its walls, and after the separation of the faculties, only the School of Arts. The church served as a meeting place for lecturers and students who avoided the influence of the episcopate of the time and under its arches in different time the poet Francois Villon and the writer Francois Rabelais gathered. Thomas Aquinas preached here.

In 1651, after centuries of neglect, two bays of the nave had to be demolished and the north-west facade was built; the northern side aisle was preserved and its two bays were used as a sacristy. The only survivor among the Parisian parishes of the 12th century, this church was never brought to its original design. appearance: the choirs were supposed to be three tiers high; the nave was supposed to be covered with hexagonal vaults, but they were replaced by a wooden roof, and after the 17th century - new system vaults; near the bell tower, planned on the south side of the church, only steps of the staircase were built.

— Saint Laurent Church is located at 119, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Martin, 68, boulevard de Strasbourg. It was built in the 15th century in the late style. Construction was finally completed only in the 18th century. In the 19th century, the church building was extended.

— the Church of Saint-Merri was built in the Flamboyant Gothic style in 1520 - 1612 on the site of a small chapel, from which a 14th-century bell tower has survived. Saint-Merri served as the parish church of Italian bankers. The church was consecrated in honor of Saint Merry (Mederic), who was buried here in the 8th century. His remains are still in the crypt of the church.

The crypt, main nave and side naves date back to 1515-1520, the middle cross - 1526-1530, the apse chori were completed in 1552. Construction was completed in 1612, when the bell tower was raised. In the XVII and XVIII centuries The façade has been restored several times, but the temple still has 16th-century stained glass windows and magnificent wood carvings.

Saint-Nicholas-des-Champs s - a church consecrated in honor of St. Nicholas, was built in the Flamboyant Gothic style. The building dates from the 12th, 15th and 17th centuries. The church was built on the site of the previous chapel of the Abbey of St. Martine de Champs. The chapel was converted into a parish church in 1184. In the 12th century, construction of the current building began. The church organ dates from the 17th century. The first organ appeared here in 1418. It is also worth paying attention to the altar in the monumental style of the 18th century, the height of which reaches 12 meters.

— The church of Saint-Nicolas du Chardonnay was built in the Baroque style. In 1977 it was occupied by the traditionalist society of St. Pius X. The first construction of the church dates back to the 13th century. It was significantly rebuilt in 1656 and 1763.

- Church of St. Paul and Louis is located in. The current building was built between 1627 and 1641 under the leadership of the Jesuit architects Etienne Martellan and Franço Deran, commissioned by King Louis XIII. Next to the church building is the Lyceum of Charlemagne, also founded by the Jesuits. monastic order. The nearest station is Saint-Paul.

- Despite being less famous, the Church of St. Peter of Montmatre is remarkable from a historical point of view. It is believed that it was here that the memorable vote took place, as a result of which the Jesuit monastic order was founded.

The current building stands on the site of an earlier church, which in the 9th century served as a stopover for pilgrims on the way to the Basilica of Saint Denis. In 1133, the Merovingian church was bought by King Louis VI for the purpose of building the Montmartre monastery. The new building was solemnly consecrated in 1147. Benedictine monks descended to the foot of the hill in the 1680s, and the church was destroyed during the French Revolution. In the 19th century the church was restored.

Other, lesser-known churches in Paris:

• Saint-Pierre-de-Montrouge
• Saint-Roch
• Sainte-Rosalie
• St. Sava
• Saint-Severin
• Saint-Sulpice
• Sainte-Trinité
• Saint-Vincent-de-Paul
• St-Gervais-et-St-Protais

NOTRE DAME (Notre Dame Cathedral)

Notre Dame Cathedral was built in the western part of the Ile de la Cité, on the site where an ancient Roman altar dedicated to Jupiter stood in the 1st century AD. Among the Gothic churches of France, Notre Dame Cathedral stands out for the austere grandeur of its appearance. In terms of beauty, proportions, and the degree to which the idea of ​​Gothic art is embodied, this cathedral is a unique phenomenon.
Construction of the cathedral began in 1163 under Bishop Maurice de Sully. The first stone in the foundation of the temple was laid by Pope Alexander III. During the construction process, which was completed only by the middle of the 14th century, the original plan of the cathedral underwent a number of changes, adopting the features of mature Gothic art.
Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris houses one of the great relics of Christianity - the Crown of Thorns of Jesus Christ.
Until 1063, the Crown of Thorns was kept on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. In 1063 it was transported to the palace of the Byzantine emperors in Constantinople. In 1204, the sacred relic was captured by Western European crusading knights who burst into Constantinople and plundered the Christian city. Before this, for a thousand years the conqueror had not set foot on the stones of the streets of Constantinople.
Under the attacks of the crusaders, the Byzantine Empire fell apart into several parts. Constantinople found itself under the rule of a dynasty of some provincial princes, who insatiably plundered the remnants of the great heritage they had inherited, but were still constantly in need of money. One of them, Baldwin II, began selling sacred relics of Christianity to get out of debt. As a result, the Crown of Thorns went to the French King Louis IX.

St. de la MADLEINE

The Parisian Church of the Madeleine (French l "église de la Madeleine) is the Church of St. Mary Magdalene; located in the 8th arrondissement of the French capital, on the square of the same name; a striking example of neoclassicism in architecture.
The temple is illuminated through the vault - unlike other churches, the church has neither a transept nor side windows.
The history of the construction of the church stretched over 85 years due to the political instability of France at the end of the 18th - beginning of the 19th centuries. Construction began under Louis XV, in whose honor the Place de la Concorde and its surroundings were decorated, and who personally laid the first stone of the future church. The initial project was likened to the Invalides' Home - a cruciform structure with a dome. Napoleon wanted the temple to be dedicated to the victories of his army; the project was revised by the architect Vignon, but defeat in the Russian war of 1812 cost the temple its transformation into a railway station - the first in Paris - in 1837, and a return to its original purpose only in 1845.

One of the most beautiful churches in Paris is Sacre Coeur (“Sacre Coeur” - Church of the Heart of Christ). No matter where you are in the city, your gaze will definitely linger on the white domes of the Sacre Coeur Basilica, rising majestically on the top of the Montmartre hill. In its architectural appearance, there is a clear imitation of the Saint Fro Cathedral in Périgueux in southwestern France.
Situated at the top of Montmartre, the Sacré-Coeur Basilica was designed by the architect Abadie. The temple was built in memory of the victims of the Franco-Prussian War; funds for its construction were collected by public subscription.
The architects decided to build the Sacre Coeur church in the Roman-Byzantine style. And indeed, four small domes and one large one, firmly standing on a high drum, are clearly of Eastern origin. The elongated shape of the domes follows the silhouette of the famous 12th century basilica. Saint-Frond in Périgueux, in the south of France. Behind the church is a square bell tower, 84 meters high, with the famous bell, one of the largest bells in the world - it weighs 19 tons. This bell is a gift from the church from the province of Savoie, and therefore it bears the name “Savoyarde”. A magnificent staircase leads to the facade of the church with a portico of three arches: above the portico on both sides there are statues of Saint Louis and Joan of Arc. The magnificent facade of the church, slowly approaching the visitor as they climb the cascade of stairs, is decorated with sculptures of Christ and the Samaritan woman, Mary in Simon's house.
The inside of the church is richly decorated with mosaics; The original stained glass windows were destroyed during the Second World War. Mosaic panels above the pulpit depict scenes of worship of the Sacred Heart of Christ. The crypt under the temple is open to visitors and serves as an exhibition space for works of sacred art.

On the hill of St. Genevieve, rising 60 m above the level of the Seine (i.e. 84 m above sea level), stands the Pantheon - one of the landmarks of Paris, visible from different parts of the city.
The history of the Pantheon is essentially the history of human vanity, expressed here primarily in our inability to distinguish the eternal from the momentary: the very name of the Pantheon has changed more than once throughout its relatively short history.
At the entrance of the Pantheon there is the inscription AUX GRANDS HOMMES LA PATRIE RECONNAISSANTE (“Grateful Fatherland to Great Men”).
In 1744, Louis XV vowed that if he recovered, he would build a church on the site of the old Abbey of Sainte-Genevieve. He recovered, but fulfilling his vow took him a long time. It was not until 1764 that Madame Pompadour's brother hired the architect Soufflot to design a church in the form of a Greek cross with a dome reminiscent of that of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. During the revolution of 1789, the First Convention decided to bury in this new church “the first of the great sons of France, citizen Mirabeau.”
And then it was decided to bury all the great people here.
The bell towers, which cost the architect his life, were demolished, the cross was removed, and on the bas-relief of the pediment above the main entrance, St. Genevieve was replaced by an allegorical figure of the Motherland, who is crowned ancient greek goddess True. Under the bas-relief an inscription appeared: “To great people - a grateful fatherland.” In place of the cross they placed the figure of Glory. And the church was renamed the Pantheon.
After Mirabeau's funeral, Voltaire's ashes were transferred here.
After the Bourbon restoration, the Pantheon became a church again, and the inscription again mentioned not the “grateful fatherland”, but St. Genevieve. All the sculptures on the pediment were again replaced with appropriate ones and they began to move the dead again: they removed Voltaire and Rousseau into the crypt under the peristyle so that they would not be too much of an eyesore new government. But still, at least they didn’t take it out of the Pantheon this time...
After the revolution of 1830, the new “bourgeois king” Louis Philippe again renamed the church the Pantheon and placed Voltaire and Rousseau in their original places, and also (for the fourth time!) changed the bas-reliefs on the pediments. This time, the Motherland distributed wreaths, and History recorded who and for what. Mirabeau, Malesherbe, Fenelon, Berthollet, Laplace, Lafayette, Voltaire appeared on the bas-reliefs... Napoleon also appeared among them, but not the emperor - no, just General Bonaparte, as if he had always been a famous military leader and nothing more... A monument to Pierre also appeared Corneille.
And in 1847, from the Place de la Panthéon to the Luxembourg Gardens (to the present Place Edmond Rostand), a wide street was built, called Rue Soufflot. On the very spot where the forum of the Roman city of Upper Lutetia was once located.
In 1851, the Prince-President (later Napoleon III) again named the Pantheon the Church of St. Genevieve. And again - “forever and ever.” The cross was erected again. Exactly twenty years later, the Communards demolished the cross, replacing it with a red banner. Two years later, the Third Republic again erected the cross.
When the great exile Victor Hugo died in 1885, the same Third Republic again renamed the church the Pantheon and buried “Viscount Hugo” next to Voltaire.
The inscription “To great people - a grateful fatherland” was restored, but the cross was left on the dome. Then the ashes of the great doctor Cabanis and Marshal Lannes were transferred here. Later, Emile Zola and the leader of the French socialists Jean Jaurès were buried here, and relatively recently the ashes of Pierre and the only woman, Marie Curie, were transferred here. Soon after them, Andre Malraux, the famous philosopher of our time, writer, one of the leaders of the Resistance, and later Minister of Culture in several de-Gaulle governments, was buried here. And already in the twentieth! century, Alexandre Dumas was buried here.

Its construction began in 1646; During the construction of the church, 6 architects changed. The latter, the Florentine Servandoni, decorated the façade with a two-tiered colonnade. The interior of the church is illuminated by daylight through numerous stained glass windows, which gives it a somewhat mysterious appearance. The first chapel to the right of the entrance was painted by E. Delacroix. Above the entrance is one of the best organs in France, made in 1776.
This church apparently has a certain magical aura. It is not without reason that in many fiction works of the 20th century. It is in it that mysterious events take place, secret and mysterious messages are discovered. Researchers of occult societies believe that Saint-Sulpice is associated with the powerful Masonic society, which has been covertly influencing European life for at least 10 centuries.

The cathedral was built on the site of a Gallo-Roman cemetery, where the first bishop of Paris, who was martyred around 250, was buried. There was once a famous monastery here
The history of the cathedral is closely connected with the monarchy. The tombs of French kings are located here, and many queens were crowned here.
Each tomb has a bas-relief of the person buried in it.
This is one of the most mysterious and amazing Cathedrals in Paris.

Royally majestic, created in the mature Gothic style, by order of Saint Louis, the Sainte-Chapelle chapel was erected as a royal church and was supposed to become a symbol of the sacred power of the French monarchs. Pieces of the Cross of Jesus Christ are kept here. The upper and lower chapels amaze with their beauty and splendor. The walls of the Sainte-Chapelle seem to dissolve, bringing to the fore an openwork pattern woven from multi-colored mosaics, the plots of which include hundreds of scenes and cover the entire story from creation to the arrival of the procession with the sacred relic in Paris. Sunlight, reflected in the windows, colors the entire interior space with bright reflections. Thin pilasters, going under the very arches of the vault, separate the stained glass windows, at the same time being an element of Gothic decor. It is worth seeing the divine stained glass windows: “The Last Supper”, “The Transfer of Shrines”, a beautiful rose window showing scenes from the Apocalypse, statues of the apostles, which are an amazing example of wood carving. Outside France, the Sainte-Chapelle became a model for Gothic buildings.

The Church of Saint-Eustache is comparable in size to Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, and the height of its vault is even several meters higher than the height of North Dame.
Architecturally, it is surprising in that it combines medieval Gothic with examples of the Italian Renaissance. And by adding modern sculpture, we generally get a stunning cocktail.

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