For pure wonder and amazement, head to Sainte-Chapelle, very near Notre Dame. La Sainte-Chapelle is without a double one of, if not the, most beautiful churches of Paris. So infectious is R. Howard Bloch’s passion for his subject that even those unable to do the traveling required will find in Paris and Her Cathedrals an inspiring guide to these time-hallowed masterpieces of medieval culture.” —Colin Jones, author of Paris and The Great Nation King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette: The last Bourbon monarchs of France, executed during the French Revolution.

Gothic cathedrals were also regarded as "bibles for the educating the masses." In an era when illiteracy was widespread, the elaborate stone carvings, sculptures, and stained glass windows served as a visual representation of biblical stories and religious teachings. These artistic elements functioned as a means of education, helping the clergy communicate the teachings of the Church to the common people in a language they could understand, regardless of their ability to read or write.The Basilique Sainte-Clotilde, commonly known as Saint-Clotilde Basilica, is a Catholic church located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, France.

So infectious is R. Howard Bloch’s passion for his subject that even those unable to do the traveling required will find in Paris and Her Cathedrals an inspiring guide to these time-hallowed masterpieces of medieval culture.” —Colin Jones, author of Paris and The Great Nation

Stories from France

Paris is home to 197 churches.These places of worship in Paris are rich with French history and so manyof them are worth a visit!

The construction of the Dome Church began in 1677 and was completed in 1706. Crowned by its iconic gilded dome, the church was designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, and is most famous for serving as the final resting place for Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. It has an ornate Baroque façade, intricate interior decorations, and the captivating play of light that filters through its magnificent stained glass windows. It is believed that the earliest religious building on that location was a Gallo-Romantemple dedicated toJupiter. This was and still is the historical center of Paris. The Église du Dôme, situated within the breathtaking complex of Les Invalides in Paris, is not a place of worship or “church” per sé, but stands as an architectural marvel and a poignant tribute to the legacy of France’s military history. You’ll recognize it as you walk up to it by its mismatched towers that end in round turrets instead of spires. Eglise Saint-Sulpiceis the second largest church in Paris, after Notre-Dame. The cathedral is renowned for its Gothic architecture, with pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and towering spires setting the stage for the evolution of European religious architecture.The book explores the common elements of the buildings, but also what makes each one distinctive. It might be its history, or how much of its original structure remains, or the storms and conflicts it's survived, or the style or amount of art embellishing its walls, but each one, while fitting to some extent the pattern of a cathedral, has its own attributes and reasons one might want to visit.

For any lover of religious art and architecture, the Cluny Museum in Parisis a must-visit landmark in Paris! The chapel is built in a high Gothic style – making it feel high and sweeping! It is truly one of the finest religious buildings you will ever visit – a church in Paris no one can miss. Montmartre’s icon, Sacre Coeur is one of the most iconic churches in Paris 4. Montmartre Basilica in Paris L’église Saint-François-Xavier (Saint-François-Xavier Church) is a Roman Catholic church in Paris located in the 7th arrondissement. The entire church was built in the 19th century. It is dedicated to St. Francis Xavier, a Spanish Jesuit missionary who played a significant role in the spread of Christianity in Asia during the 16th century. While the Pantheon ended up being converted into a tribute for the great thinkers, visionaries, and writers of France, the Saint-Étienne-du-Mont church in the 5th arrondissement remains dedicated to her, right next to the Pantheon.This became the early burial ground for royalty including Childebert and other Merovingian kings in the history of France.