Paris wakes up to the bells of Notre-Dame… but not only! We must say that the French capital enjoys 139 churches and chapels. From the most iconic ones such as the Basilica of the Sacred Heart to the littlest known, their stories and architectures are fascinating. Here are some of their secrets!
Did you know? 3 quirky facts about the Basilica of the Sacred Heart
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart is Montmartre’s jewel that fascinates because of its colossal dimensions and its peculiar architecture. But what do you know about it? Here are three quirky facts about the Sacré Coeur. [Read more]
Did you know? 4 anecdotes about Notre-Dame de Paris
It's one of the most emblematic monuments in Paris! Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, located on the Ile de la Cité, is brimming with history and secrets! To discover some of them, click here! [Read more]
Strange asymmetry
Nestled in Paris 6th arrondissement, the Eglise Saint-Sulpice and its gigantic size is very surprising. Listed as historic monument, this is the church where Victor Hugo and Adèle Foucher got married. Its construction ended in 1870.
Well, not really. If you look at the façade more closely, you can see the towers are not the same: one is more decorated and higher than the other. The construction of the Eglise Saint-Sulpice wasn’t done overnight. Started in 1646, its edification has been the witness of the eventful history of the capital and several architects stepped in. When the south tower was being built, the French Revolution stopped the right tower to be built and has been finished in 1838. In 1871, one year after the Eglise de Saint-Sulpice was finally done, bombs damaged the North tower, on the left. The latest renovation of the monument ended in 2011 and since then, Parisians can finally fully admire the façade.
The first last house for Marie-Antoinette and Louis XVI
Before resting in the last house of the Kings of France, the Saint-Denis Basilica, Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette were first buried in the Madeleine cemetery, now disappeared. At the same place is now found a monument that is little know but is worth it: the Chapelle Expiatoire.
Inside are to be found two sculptures: one representing Louis XVI, the other, Marie-Antoinette. On each, one can read Louis XVI’s will and the last letter Marie-Antoinette wrote to Madame Elisabeth, the King’s sister.
