Paris: Churches

Église de la Madeleine

The Eglise de la Madeleine is in the center of the Place de la Madeleine, facing the Rue Royale. The Church, which looks a Greek temple, was begun in 1764 by Constant d'lvry, and was completed in 1810. Note the sculptured pediment, the bas-reliefs on the bronze door, Mariage de la Vierge (the Virgin Mary's wedding) by Pradier, and the Baptême de Clovis (Christening of Clovis) by Rude. Apostles on the pendentives, sculptured by Rude, Pradier and Foyatier, the Sainte-Madeleine group above the High Altar. From the top of the peristyle splendid view, which includes the Rue Royale, the Obelisque the Palais Bourbon (National Assembly), and the Dome des Invalides.

Notre Dame

Notre-Dame Cathedral, which is the finest example of French gothic art, overlooks the Place du Parvis (ChurchSquare). Most important and most impressive of all churches in Paris, the Cathedral was begun by Bishop Maurice de Sully in 1163; the Foundations and the main walls were ready by 1250. but the Cathedral was not completed until 1330. It was restored by Viollet-le-Duc. Viollet-le-Duc carried out extensive renovations to the cathedral in the 19th century. The interior is 130m long, 48m wide and 35m high, and can accommodate over 6000 worshippers. Some 12 million people visit it each year. Notre Dame is known for its sublime balance, although if you look closely you'll see all sorts of minor asymmetrical elements introduced to avoid monotony, in accordance with standard Gothic practice. These include the slightly different shapes of each of the three main entrances, whose statues were once brightly colored to make them more effective as a Biblia pauperum - a 'Bible of the poor' to help the illiterate understand the Old Testament stories, the Passion of Christ and the lives of the saints.

The steeples are 69 meters high; a staircase goes up the south steeple and a splendid panorama may be seen from the top. It would take about two hours to make a thorough visit of the Cathedral Special attention should be paid to the Galerie des Rois (King's Gallery), the Great Rose window, the Grande Galerie (Main Gallery), the Portals, the Nave, the Stained glass windows in the transept, the Choir, the Treasury, the Closter Portal, the Red Door, the Chevet, the Spire and Saint Etienne. Portal Visit of the towers, every day, from 10 o'clock time 18 PM. One of the best views of Notre Dame is from Square Jean XXIll, the lovely little park behind the cathedral, where you can see the mass of ornate flying buttresses that encircle the chancel and support its walls and roof.

Saint German-L'auxerrois Church

The Norman steeple dates back to the 12th century and the gothic choir to the 13th, the porch nave, and transept are in 15th century flamboyant style, and one of the side doors of Renaissance style Special attention should be paid to the porch with the Statue of Sainte-Marie l'Egyptienne (St. Mary of Egypt) the beautiful churchwardens pew in the nave, the Flemish reredos of one of the side chapels, and the old stained glass windows decorating the transept rose. The Bell dates back to 1527, and rang the signal for the Saint Bartholomew massacre.

Sainte Chapelle

The gem-like Sainte Chapelle , whose upper chapel is illuminated by a veritable curtain of luminous 13th-century stained glass (the oldest and finest in Paris), is inside the Palais de Justice (Law Courts). Consecrated in 1248, Sainte Chapelle was built in only 33 months to house what was believed to be Jesus' crown of thorns and other relics purchased by King Louis IX (Saint Louis) earlier in the 13th century. The chapel's exterior can be viewed from across the street from the law courts' magnificently gilded 18th-century gate, which faces Rue de Lutéce.

Église Saint Eustache

This majestic church (metro Les Halles), one of the most attractive in Paris, is just north of the grassy area on top of Forum des HaIles. Constructed between 1532 and 1640, its general design is Gothic. The classical west façade was added in the mid-18th century. Inside, there's some exceptional Flamboyant Gothic arch work holding up the ceiling of the chancel, though most of the interior ornamentation is Renaissance and classical, as you can see from the cornices and Corinthian columns. The gargantuan, 101-stop, 8000-pipe organ above the west entrance is used for concerts, a long tradition here. The nave and choir are lined with chapels, some containing tombs, including that of Louis XIV's finance minister, Jean-Baptise Colbert.

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