22 Famous Churches in Paris: Visiting tips, history & photos

Paris and the surrounding region, the Ile de France, is home to some of the greatest medieval cathedrals in Europe. Three of the most beautiful Gothic churches – Notre Dame, Saint-Denis and Sainte-Chapelle – are located in Paris.

The French capital also has many other superb Gothic churches, including Saint-Séverin and Saint-Eustache.

The oldest church in Paris is most likely Saint Germain des Prés, and nearby Saint Julien le Pauvre is around 900 years old.

Paris is also home to several fine Baroque churches, including the splendid Saint-Sulpice on the Left bank.

Some famous churches in Paris have been turned into secular monuments, including the Pantheon, now a national mausoleum for famous French citizens. One of the most recent of these famous Paris churches is the Basilica of Sacré Coeur, the domed white hilltop church overlooking the city.

Most of these famous Paris churches are free to visit – we indicate where you need to buy a ticket.

Its ‘walls’ of stained glass are close to the pinnacle of Gothic art.

La Sainte Chapelle, one of the three or four most famous churches in Paris, is a royal chapel. It was built to house relics acquired by French King Louis IX, including the Crown of Thorns and parts of the True Cross, both associated with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Unusually, Sainte Chapelle (‘Holy Chapel’) was built in a single period, between 1242 and 1248.  There are two chapels – the ornate lower one was used by royal court members and nobility, while the upper chapel was used solely by the French royal family.

La Sainte Chapelle Paris is one of the most magnificent churches in Europe, its ‘walls’ of stained glass held together by intricate Gothic stonework.  Over 1,100 scenes are depicted, mostly from the Bible but also showing the acquisition of the relics once held in the Sainte Chapelle.

Around two-thirds of the stained glass in Sainte Chapelle is original, from the 13th century. They replaced the rest in the 19th century.

Sainte Chapelle was deconsecrated after the French Revolution, so is no longer officially a church.

Being one of the most popular places to visit in Paris make sure you book your tickets to Sainte Chapelle in advance.

Fine Baroque church on the Île Saint-Louis

The Île Saint-Louis, the island next to the Île de la Cité, was uninhabited until the 17^th century, and once it was settled, the new population needed a church.

Saint-Louis en l’Île was built between 1664 and 1725, the work of the architect François Le Vau, who lived on the island.

The Baroque church was eventually completed almost 50 years after his death. Its spire was destroyed in 1740 and was rebuilt with gaps in the stonework to allow wind to pass through.

There is plenty of elaborate Baroque ornamentation to admire, including several ornate side chapels.

If you venture behind the high altar, you should come across a small reliquary behind a metal grille – it’s a relic of King Louis IX, who is also the Saint-Louis to whom the church is dedicated. Remarkably, the grille in front of the relic is secured by a bike lock, of all things.

Nearby Attractions: The famous and delicious Berthillon Ice Cream (you will see the queues). Île Saint-Louis, one of the most beautiful places to wander in Paris.

The birthplace of Gothic architecture.

The Basilica-Cathedral of Saint-Denis is dedicated to the patron saint of France, the early Christian martyr St Denis. According to traditional lore he was beheaded, then picked up his head, walked down the hill from Montmartre to the site of this church and preached a sermon before finally collapsing.

There are two overwhelmingly compelling reasons to visit the Basilica of St Denis. Firstly it’s the very first Gothic church ever built, home to an architectural revolution where the rounded Romanesque arch was replaced by the slender, more elegant pointed arch.

Secondly, it’s the burial place of most French kings and queens, the French equivalent of London’s Westminster Abbey.

Nearby Attractions: Saint-Denis Market, Parc de la Légion d’Honneur.

Perhaps the oldest church in Paris, brighter for a 19^th century makeover.

Saint-Germain des Prés – St Germanus of the Meadows – has the strongest claim to the title of the oldest church in Paris, its tower and a chapel dating to the 11^th century.

It was the burial place of French kings and queens until the Basilica of Saint Denis became the royal necropolis in the 10^th century.

Much of what we see today is a 19^th century re-imagining of a pre-Reformation church rather than a faithful restoration. Proponents of the 16^th century Reformation strongly opposed elaborate decoration of churches, so countless medieval and earlier works of rt were lost across Europe as a result.

The interior of Saint Germain des Prés is rich in colour, with a series of murals and a blue ceiling decorated with golden stars, like the twilight sky in a stone vault.

The surrounding area, with its strong intellectual tradition, takes its name from the church, and three of the most prominent cafes – Les Deux Magots, Café de Flore and Brasserie Lipp – are within a stone’s throw of the church.

Nearest Metro: Saint-Germain des Prés (line 4)

Vast monument of Parisian Baroque with three Delacroix masterpieces to seek out.

Saint-Sulpice is one of the most famous churches in Paris because of its vast size – it’s the second largest in the city after Notre Dame – and its (unwanted) association with The Da Vinci Code movie and novel.

The 17^th century Baroque church – with an unfinished Neoclassical façade – replaced an earlier, smaller church. Its slightly mismatched towers were never completed, but the interior was.

Its enormous scale is impressive,  and there are also some outstanding works of art and features to discover around the church.

When you enter Saint-Sulpice, don’t miss the corner chapel on the right were you’ll find three works by famous French painter Eugene Delacroix, who lived nearby.  

Also look out for the Gnomon, an ingenious and elaborate feature which indicates the winter solstice and autumn and spring equinoxes.

The furore over The Da Vinci Code has long since died down, but the Church still has a notice dissociating itself with the book and film.  The premise was that Jesus Christ may have had children, and Saint-Sulpice and the wider Roman Catholic Church strongly refuted this. The clergy of Saint-Sulpice also refused permission to shoot scenes of the movie inside the church.

It is also famous for it’s 600-pipe organ one of the largest in France.

Nearest Metro: Saint-Sulpice or Saint Germain des Pres (line 4) or Mabillon (Line 10).

The National Mausoleum of France

The Pantheon Paris was intended as a church to house the relics of St Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris. However, fate and the French Revolution intervened, with the building acquiring a very different purpose.

In the wake of the Revolution, it was decided to use the building as a Temple to honour important French figures, and two of the earliest to be interred there were the writers Voltaire and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

The building reverted to church statues twice in the 19^th century, but it was eventually decided to use it as a national mausoleum, an idea partly inspired by the Pantheon in Rome.

The Pantheon was built in Neoclassical style, with a portico and dome inspired by St Paul’s Cathedral in London.

The crypt contains most of the 80 or so memorials, of which only five commemorate women – hopefully this will change significantly in the coming years.

Famous French figures from Victor Hugo and Emile Zola to scientists Pierre and Marie Curie and several war heroes can be found in the various vaults of the crypt – a fascinating journey through the last two centuries or so of French history.

When visiting the Pantheon don’t miss the climb to the Dome, which is one of the best viewpoints in Paris, commanding some of the best Eiffel tower views in the city.

Nearest Metro: Cardinal Lemoine or Luxembourg (RER B)

Characterful Gothic and Renaissance hotch-potch, and the resting place of St Genevieve, patron saint of Paris

Just across the street from the Paris Pantheon, this slightly wonky, charming church is important to Parisians as it holds the remaining relics of the city’s patron saint, Genevieve. 

Her intercessions were believed to have saved Paris from attack by the Huns in 451 AD, and her shrine is on the south side of the church.

Saint Étienne du Mont is one of the finest of our famous churches in Paris, and before entering, take a walk away from it to admire its west front in its entirety. Symmetrical it is not: I’ve always thought of it as a Gothic retirement home for wise old owls, especially with its unusual belltower.

The interior is one of the most beautiful in Paris, with a rare jubé, a rood bridge between the nave and chancel of the church, flanked by a Neoclassical portal on each side. 

The stonework is incredibly intricate, and the three rows of arches on each side make for an impression of great height. The large windows flood the church with light, giving it a wonderful, uplifting feel.

Nearest Metro: Cardinal Lemoine (line 10) or Luxembourg (RER line B)

A splendid golden dome beneath which lies Napoleon Bonaparte

The Hotel des Invalides complex, which houses the Musee Nationale de l’Armee, also houses one of the most famous churches in Paris, the Dome des Invalides.

There are two adjoining churches within the Invalides, the Dome Chapel (chapel is a misleading word here – it’s as big as many a Cathedral) and the Cathedral of Saint Louis, which was formerly the Veterans’ Chapel.

The Dome was built in the late 17^th century, commissioned by King Louis XIV. It’s a French Baroque masterpiece, its golden dome one of the most famous landmarks in Paris. It’s worth walking around to the river Seine and the sumptuous Pont Alexandre III bridge to look back at the Invalides dome – it’s one of the best views in Paris.

When you enter the Dome des Invalides, you’re struck by the height of the building and sense of space. It is now used as a military mausoleum.

Napoleon has pride of place in a huge porphyry tomb in a chapel below the level of the rest of the church, and several major French military figures – Lyautey, Turenne, Vauban and Foch – are interred in the smaller corner chapels.

Tiny, humble ancient church within sight of Notre Dame.

It isn’t necessarily among the most famous churches in Paris, but there is a fair chance you’ll have passed by it, or will do, at some point. St Julien le Pauvre (St Julian the Poor) sits within sight of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. It’s very near the Seine embankment, and it’s also close to one of the busiest Paris attractions, the Shakespeare & Company bookshop.

The church was begun in the late 12^th century, and the Romanesque arches of the nave – a rare survival in Paris – are likely to date from this period. The Gothic arches of the chancel followed later, and the plain façade is likely to have been added in the 17^th century.

St Julien le Pauvre escaped destruction during the French Revolution, and in 1889 was taken over by the Greek Melkite Catholics, who worship in the church to this day.

Their rite contains some Orthodox elements, which is reflected by the iconostasis depicting Christ and the Apostles between the nave and chancel.  

I first visited this tiny church when living in Paris one summer in the early 1990s, and was very keen to return.

Opening hours seem to be irregular, depending on when someone is around to open it up. Your best bet may be to visit before a service or (book a ticket for) a concert, which is what I did.

It might also be worth keeping tabs on the church’s Facebook page or contacting them through it.

Metro: St Michel Notre Dame

Gothic glories tucked away in the Latin Quarter

The church of St Séverin is one of the highlights of the Latin Quarter. Dedicated to a local 6^th century hermit, the church dates back to the 12^th century and became parish church to the Sorbonne, the University of Paris.

Saint-Séverin is one of the most beautiful churches in Paris, the late French Gothic architecture and stained glass blending harmoniously with the 20^th century stained glass around the apse.

The effect reminds me of the Lady Chapel in Salisbury Cathedral in England. And don’t miss the gargoyles, a 19^th century addition, around the sides of the church.

Metro: St Michel Notre Dame

There are several notable artworks in the church, including Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot’s The Baptism of Christ. Look out for the outstanding tomb of Jerome Bignon, personal tutor to King Louis XIII, in one of the chapels in the north aisle.

Nearest Metro: Maubert-Mutualite (Line 7)

Neo-Byzantine basilica overlooking the city.

The Basilica of Sacré Coeur is one of the most famous churches in Paris and one of the most famous landmarks in France. This distinctive church, designed by Paul Abadie, is always a brilliant white because of the self-cleaning properties of the calcite stone from which it is built.

There are great views of it from all over the city, as well as much closer on the Place du Tertre and the Rue de l’Abreuvoir in Montmartre.

Visiting Sacré Coeur is free, although there is a small charge for climbing the 300 or so steps to the gallery in the dome, where you’ll enjoy some of the best views in Paris.

It’s worth taking a look inside for some of the Byzantine-inspired mosaics, particularly the one above the high altar, but I’ve always found this church to be a gloomy, soulless cavern.

I always enjoy seeing it from outside, but would only return inside to climb the dome with my son.

Nearest Metro: Abbesses (line 12) – but the Montmartre funicular is much more convenient, taking you almost to the doorstep of Sacré Coeur.

Atmospheric Temple-style church off the Place de la Concorde.

La Madeleine is one of the most recognisable famous churches in Paris, its distinctive Corinthian columned façade a familiar sight to anyone passing through the nearby Place de la Concorde. 

The present church replaced an earlier building on the same site, and was built between 1763 and 1842.  At one point Napoleon Bonaparte intended it to be a Temple glorifying the French Army, and King Louis XVIII planned to turn it into an expiatory church.

However it was eventually dedicated to St Mary Magdalene, and completed during the reign of Louis-Philippe.

Inside, the building resembles a Temple more than a traditional church. The lights in the church are quite low, so much of the building is in near-darkness. Some would call it gloomy – I prefer to think of it as atmospheric.

Your eye is naturally drawn to the high altar, the best-lit part of the church. A dramatic sculpture by Carlo Marocchetti, The Ecstasy of Mary Magdalene, depicts her ascending to heaven transported by angels.

The mosaics above – History of Christianity and Christianity in France – above the altar, depicting important Christian figures with connections to France.

Nearest Metro: Madeleine (lines 8, 12 and 14)

Grand Gothic gem near the site of Paris’ old food market.

St Eustache was founded in the 13^th century, close to the massive Les Halles food market that served the city until the 1970s. Like several other Parisian churches it was rebuilt in the 16^th century, having been deemed too small for the growing population of its parish.

Saint-Eustache, named after a martyred Roman general, is an imposing Gothic edifice, its three layers of windows illuminating a nave vault 112 feet (34 metres) high.

The church is mainly Flamboyant Gothic in style, with a Renaissance façade quite different in character from the rest of the church. The interior is gorgeous, one of the finest in Paris and larger than many a Cathedral.

There are many things to see inside, particularly Peter Paul Rubens’ painting The Disciples at Emmaus, and the tomb of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, a parishioner and Finance Minister under King Louis XIV.

Nearest Metro: Etienne Marcel or Les Halles (line 4), or Chatelet-Les Halles (RER lines A, B and D)

An overlooked late Gothic delight near the Pompidou Centre.

Also known as the Eglise de Saint Merry, this 16^th century Paris Right Bank church dates back over 800 years earlier, and maintained strong links with Notre Dame Cathedral just across the river Seine.

St Merri Church was built between 1520 and 1560 to replace a smaller building which could no longer meet the needs of the growing community around it.

It’s named after St Mederic, an abbot from Burgundy who came to Paris on a pilgrimage and died there two years later. He also became patron saint of the Right Bank (Rive Droite).

The church was built in the late Flamboyant Gothic style, though inside you can also see some Baroque-era modifications.

It’s one of the hidden gems of Paris because it is largely concealed by surrounding buildings, and also hemmed in by the two buildings either side of its west front.

Saint-Merri church is a two-minute walk from the Centre Pompidou, and you get a fine view of the north side of the church from around the Fontaine Stravinsky, where many locals come to relax.

Nearest Metro: Chatelet or Rambuteau

Overlooked Gothic gem near the Louvre.

St Germain l’Auxerrois church, situated across the street from the Louvre, was the parish church of people working in the Palace. While Notre Dame has been closed for restoration its services have been held in this church.

It’s named after Germanus of Auxerre, a prominent early French saint and contemporary of Genevieve, patron saint of Paris.

A church may have been founded on the site as early as the 5^th century, and the present building mostly dates from the Gothic period. It has elements from the High Gothic, Flamboyant Gothic and Renaissance periods, and it has one of the most beautiful Gothic interiors in Paris.

It’s very much overlooked in comparison with some of the more famous churches in Paris, but most visitors only ever get to see it from the tour bus on the way to the Louvre.

The fine tower actually belongs to the town hall of the 1^st arrondissement of Paris, and not the church.

Nearest Metro: Louvre-Rivoli (line 1)

Austere exterior, vivid interior

This 19^th century Neoclassical church, at the southern end of Rue des Martyrs, should be one of the most famous churches in Paris.

Its plain exterior with a narrow portico entrance (reminiscent of the Maison Carree Roman temple in Nimes) doesn’t give the slightest hint of what is hidden behind the door, but it’s very much worth investigating.

The coffered ceilings of the nave and aisle are striking – they reminded me of two of the great basilicas of Rome, Santa Maria Maggiore and, to a lesser degree, St John Lateran.

The church is also richly decorated with murals and sculptures – look out especially for the Chapel of the Virgin, painted by Victor Orsel.

Nearest Metro: Notre-Dame-de-Lorette (Line 12)

The façade of the church – facing Rue Saint-Antoine – was inspired by the nearby church of St Gervais and St Protais, while the rest of the church bears some similarity to the Church of the Gesu in Rome.

St Paul and St Louis is rich in decorative art, from its many sculptures to its paintings, including a Delacroix (Christ in the Garden of Olives) which was loaned out when I recently visited.

Nearest Metro: Saint-Paul (line 1)

Late Gothic interior, and the first Baroque façade in Paris

This much-overlooked church near the Hotel de Ville, on the edge of the Marais district, is one of the most beautiful in Paris.

The present building, dedicated to two early Christian martyrs, was built between 1494 and 1657.

It was initially a Flamboyant Gothic church, the last phase of Gothic on continental Europe, but there are also Renaissance elements and, most notably, a striking Baroque façade, the first to be built in Paris.

The church suffered a direct hit from a German bomb in the latter stages of the first World War, which killed 91 people and injured many others. It has been beautifully restored and is now the mother church of the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem.

Nearest Metro: Hotel de Ville (lines 1 and 11)

All that survives from the once-prosperous Abbey of Montmartre           

St Pierre de Montmartre is one of the most important historic churches in Paris, having been the church of the powerful Abbey of Montmartre.

The church, in the shadow of Sacre Coeur, probably dates back to the 6^th or 7^th century, but the church we now see was built after 1133 when King Louis VI bought land on the summit of the hill and founded a convent for Benedictine nuns.

Saint Pierre is a small, simple church in comparison with most of the churches in this article. Its interior appears plain and unadorned at first glance, but look closer and you’ll see a wealth of intricate stonework, especially the pillar capitals.

Rare Art Nouveau church built to serve Pigalle and Lower Montmartre in the early 1900s

St Jean de Montmartre is one of the most unusual of our famous churches in Paris as it is built with reinforced concrete and brick. It was built over ten years around the turn of the 20^th century, and shows considerable Art Nouveau influence, particularly in the use of ceramic tiles on the exterior of the church.

The dimly-lit interior is well worth a look, especially for its superb Art Nouveau stained glass.

Nearest Metro: Abbesses (Line 12)

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