Favorite Churches of Paris

Bon Dimanche,

Happy Sunday and Happy Fathers’ Day to everyone.

On this Sunday, it seems appropriate to highlight some of our favorite churches in Paris.  Certainly most are Catholic but there are a few scattered around which are wonderfully different like the American Cathedral of Paris which is high Anglican. This is where we worship when we’re visiting. It’s on Avenue Georges Cinq and has a wonderful tribute to those lost in WWI. Sadly, photos get deleted through the years and these appear to have disappeared. I highly recommend a visit. Usually not open except on Sundays.

The Catholic faith struggles in France. As was said to us: “We are born Catholic and die Catholic but not much in between.” Bernie himself says that he is a “recovering Catholic.” But there is more faith to him than he lets on. He was an altar boy and can still repeat the Catholic liturgy memorized in his early days. The Parisian cathedrals and basilicas are magnificent so hope you enjoy a tour through some of them.

Dating back to 1163, Notre Dame is one of the oldest. We are hoping to see the grand renovation in December.  The fire devastated all of us.

La Saint Chapelle is within a football field of Notre Dame on Ile de la Cité next to the Palais de Justice. Its history dates back to the middle of the 13th century and built by Louis IX. It is probably the world’s most glorious example of stained glass.

Eglise Saint-Germain-des-Pres is on the Left Bank adjacent to Le Deux Magots. It was dirty, gloomy, dark and dirty for the first years we were in Paris. Then it was closed for renovation for years. Now it is glorious!

No post on the churches of Paris would be complete without the magnificent basilica Sacre Coœur which sits like a rising ice cream cone on Montmartre. A cathedral is the principal church of a diocese, whereas a basilica is a church that has been given special privileges by the Pope.  We had the honor of attending mass here with Paula and Tim Steigerwald.  It’s the youngest of the churches. It was consecrated in 1919 and has the largest bell of any in Paris.

Finally, I must share the spot most dear to us as it is in our St. Paul neighborhood. Eglise St. Paul/St. Louis is a beauty and has been meticulously cleaned. It houses an original Delacroix for you art lovers.

So, I’m sure you’re about churched out! But there are so many others I didn’t even share. Paris wouldn’t be Paris without its churches and the history they represent.

A bientôt

L & B