Gothic cathedrals of France. Notre Dame Cathedral (Notre Dame de Paris) - the main Catholic church of Paris Paris cathedrals and churches

At the beginning of the 13th century, this Roman Catholic cathedral was erected in the city of Bourges, the capital of the province of Berry. Built in the French Gothic style, Bourges Cathedral has stood as a site of religious significance since at least the third century, where the first Christians among the Gauls found protection in the Roman city of Avaricum. Today, the cathedral has a modern design and a magnificent façade with stunning intricate carvings and decorations. Surprisingly, much of the stained glass remains original, many of them depicting stories from the Old and New Testaments.

2. Strasbourg Cathedral

Strasbourg Cathedral is sometimes called the Rose Cathedral. The cathedral is built of sandstone, which gives it a pink hue. Despite the fact thatsignificant parts of it were built in the Romanesque style,he is consideredone of the best examples of high, or late,Gothic architecture. In the Strasbourg Cathedral Catholic church services are still ongoing, which you can attend.

The site on which Strasbourg Cathedral stands was originally occupied by a Roman temple, then by a Romanesque church, which was built in 1015 and then destroyed by fire. The present Cathedral was completed in 1284.

Unique and without analogues, the spire of Strasbourg Cathedral was the tallest in the Christian world for four centuries.

3. Monolithic Church of Saint-Jean

Aubterre-sur-Dronne is a small and picturesque town with traditional architecture and quaint houses in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwestern France. The town itself is a unique attraction in France, but the center of attraction is without a doubt the Church of Saint-Jean, carved almost entirely from limestone into the rock. Built in the 7th century and greatly expanded in the 12th century, the church has a vaulted nave, a baptismal basin and dozens of ancient coffins.

4. Rouen Cathedral

Rouen Cathedral, a Roman Catholic Gothic cathedral V Rouen , Normandy. Rouen is sometimes called the city of a thousand spiers because it is home to many churches. However, one stands out above the rest: Rouen Cathedral. This huge, towering cathedral is the tallest in all of France.

Construction of the current building began in 12m century. On the ground on which the cathedral rises, the leader of the Vikings is buried , Rollo , founderDuchy of Normandy, he was baptized herein 915 and buried in 932.

5. Basilica of Sacre-Coeur

The Sacré-Coeur Basilica is one of the most famous churches in France, located in Paris, on the Montmartre hill, which is the highest point in Paris. It was built in the Roman-Byzantine style, and is very similar to the famous Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. One of the main features of the Sacre Coeur Basilica is the huge mosaic of Jesus. Triple arched portico,topped by two bronze equestrian statues of French national saints, Joan of Arc and King Louis IX Saint, designed by Hippolyte Lefebvre. The cathedral's bell is one of the heaviest in the world, weighing 19 tons. The dome offers an excellent panoramic view of Paris.

The site of the basilica is traditionally associated with the beheading of the city's patron saint, Saint Denis, in the 3rd century.

6. Notre Dame de la Garde

The port city of Marseille is home to the incredible Notre-Dame de la Garde. The cathedral was erected in honor of the patron saint of sailors. The Roman Catholic cathedral was built on the ruins of an ancient fortress in the 19th century, and it was created in the Byzantine Renaissance style. Inside the cathedral, you will be impressed by the statue of the Madonna and Child, as well as the impressive bell tower and stone vaults.

7. Mont Saint Michel Abbey

The Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel owes its popularity among tourists to its location on the island. The island of Mont Saint-Michel is just half a mile off the coast near Normandy, making access limited. Still home to Benedictine monks, the abbey is surrounded by quaint streets, shops, cafes and museums dedicated to the island and its history.

With over 1.7 million visitors in 2014, the abbey is one ofthe most visited cultural sites in France. Included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

8. Reims Cathedral

More than 800 years ago, construction began on the Reims Cathedral, it replaced the old church, destroyed inresulting from a fire in 1211which was built on site basilicas , Where Clovis was baptizedBishop of Reimsin 496. Today, the cathedral is a stunning example of Gothic architecture and serves as a major landmark in the city of Reims. It was in this very cathedral that many French kings were crowned and records show that even Joan of Arc was present at one of these ceremonies in the 15th century. The cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Reims.

9. Notre Dame de Paris

The most famous cathedral in France is Notre-Dame de Paris, which was built in the mid-12th century. during the reign of Louis VII.Notre Dame is the most popular monument in Paris and throughout France, surpassing even the Eiffel Tower, with more than 15 million tourists visiting the cathedral every year.

But the famous cathedral is also an active Catholic church, a place of pilgrimage, and the focal point of Catholicism in France. The pearl of Parisian architecture, Notre-Dame de Paris was built in the Gothic style and boasts its incredible size. Its buttresses were among the first in the world, and many gargoyles were used not only for decoration, but also to support the columns.

Notre- Dame de Paris stands on the site of the first Christian church in Paris, the Basilica of SainteEtienne, who herselfwas built on the site of a RomanTemple of Jupiter .

10. Chartres Cathedral

Chartres Cathedral is a Gothic in architecture, Latin church located in Chartres 80 kilometers southwest of Paris. The construction of Chartres Cathedral began in the 11th century. This incredible building, built in the Gothic style, is considered one of the most important pieces of architecture in France. The colorful stained glass windows are well preserved, and two different spiers compete for tourists' attention. While the exterior is phenomenal, don't miss the relics inside, such as the dress Mary supposedly wore when she gave birth to Jesus.

The cathedral is in exceptionally good condition for its age. Most of the original stained glass windows remain intact, while only minor changes have been made to the architecture since the early 13th century. In in the appearance of the building is dominated by heavy buttresses , which allowed the architects to significantly increase the size of the window, The western part is dominated by two contrasting spiers 105 meters high.

He is listed World Heritage UNESCO, which calls Chartres Cathedral a "high point" French Gothic art" and "masterpiece".

In any country you can count several famous and world-famous buildings and structures that are its calling card. And, of course, France is no exception: French castles, beautiful bridges, beautiful monuments and the greatest temples - all this is about her. Today, we will talk about the most beautiful cathedrals and churches in France.

Or Sainte Chapelle in Paris. This amazing French chapel stands on the Ile de la Cité. The majestic structure has always aroused the delight and admiration of anyone who has ever seen it, and in the Middle Ages the chapel was called “the gate to heaven.” Centuries later, the great French writer Andre Maurois called Sainte-Chapelle “a true miracle of Gothic art.” The opinion about it has not changed even today; tourists are amazed when they see the beauty of this structure. Even despite the fact that the chapel is surrounded by buildings that are not entirely positive, in terms of energy: the Palace of Justice and the Conciergerie prison are nearby, which are also monumental and majestic, only the chapel awakens pleasant emotions. The Sainte-Chapelle chapel was built by order of the French king Louis the Ninth; for political reasons, he needed all the French to be convinced of his exclusivity and that he was worthy to become God's chosen one on the throne. Louis acquired unique relics of Christianity in Constantinople; they cost fabulous money, so he needed a decent chapel to store them. These relics were: the crown of thorns of Jesus Christ and several chips from his cross. It turned out that the relics cost the king three times more than the money spent on the construction of Sainte-Chapelle. This was in 1248. You can learn about those events by visiting the chapel and looking at its amazing stained glass windows, which depict the theme of the transfer of Christian shrines, and this plot is central, like the scene of the Last Supper and some other scenes from the Bible. These themes can be seen in the hundred small elements of the “Gothic Rose”. In ancient times, the upper chapel was a place of prayer for members of the French royal family, and servants and commoners prayed in the lower chapel, but today, tourists can explore all corners of the chapel. The chapel building was severely damaged during the French Revolution, but it was restored using ancient drawings that miraculously survived. Only now there are no sacred relics here; today only the stone spikes decorating the bell towers remind of the long-standing presence of the crown of thorns here. To feel the medieval atmosphere of this chapel, we recommend coming here to a classical organ music concert, which is held periodically here.

Or "Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière" in Lyon. The building of the Lyon basilica Notre-Dame de Fourviere, many would call pretentious or eclectic, which is not surprising due to the mixture of several styles: classicism, neo-Gothic, neo-Byzantine. But according to the architect who created the basilica, Pierre Bossan: can anything in this world be too good for the Queen of Heaven!? The basilica is located on the high Fourvière hill, and is surrounded by ancient Roman theaters. The majestic basilica building, decorated with openwork turrets and jagged lace walls, was built at the end of the nineteenth century. It can be seen from almost anywhere in the city of Lyon. It looks especially advantageous when the gilded statue of the Virgin Mary, illuminated by the bright sun, on the chapel tower, begins to glow, as if sending a blessing to all residents and guests of Lyon. Thanks to its four towers, the church looks like a fortress, and this architectural device was invented by Bossan for a reason: he believed that faith in God should protect any person no worse than a citadel. The construction of the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière on the Fourvière hill, which has long been known as a place of power, was caused by the impulse of the grateful inhabitants of Lyon. On this hill they offered prayers to the Virgin Mary in 1643 for the deliverance of the city from the plague, and in 1870 they prayed for the divine protection of the city from the invasion of the formidable army of Bismarck. And prayers helped! For this, the Lyons people built a beautiful church, incorporating all the best achievements of world architecture. The interiors of the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere are no less magnificent, because when you enter here, you think that you are in some kind of illusory world: the sun, breaking through numerous stained-glass windows, is reflected by millions of multi-colored rays, illuminating magnificent mosaics, elegant stucco, amazing paintings, beautiful sculptures . You can climb this hill by cable car.

Or "Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Doms d'Av" in Avignon. The French city of Avignon, standing on a cliff above the Rhone, has long been known as the “City of Popes”, due to the fact that the Popes lived in it for seventy years, and is also known as the “Fortified City”, because of its impregnable fortifications, surrounding the settlement. On the territory of Avignon, there used to be twenty male and fifteen female monasteries, which gave the city another title - the French “City of Bells and Churches”. Of course, many of them have long been turned into ruins or erased from the face of the earth, others are used for other purposes, but the beautiful Notre-Dame de Dome Cathedral, just like eight hundred years ago, proudly towers over the city, delighting with its beauty everyone passing by. Avignon Cathedral is part of a single ensemble with the Papal Palace and the ancient Saint-Benez bridge, which ends in the middle of the river. The monumentality of the ancient church, which is crowned by an interesting dome in the Romanesque style, on which, instead of a cross, there is a huge statue of the Virgin Mary, covered with gilding. This Catholic temple is more like a Babylonian ziggurat, however, at one time, it served as the Roman Basilica of St. Peter, representing the chair of the Supreme Pontiff. In general, the name of the Cathedral, Notre-Dame de Dome, can be translated as “House of the Bishop.” The cathedral was not built from scratch: earlier, already in the fourth century, there was an ancient basilica here, where the bishop was located, but it was destroyed by the Saracens in the eighth century. And it came back to life only in the middle of the twelfth century. The statue of the Virgin Mary, weighing four and a half tons, was erected on the building in 1859.

Or Église Saint-Michel in Dijon. This eclectic building, built of light gray sandstone, impressive during the day, but becomes irresistible at sunset, when its walls begin to emit an unusual pink glow, majestic and at the same time sophisticated, attracts tourists with its fabulous appearance. It looks like a fairytale castle, with high impenetrable towers and stone domes. The church is located not far from the luxurious Palace of the Dukes. It was erected in 889. At first it was a modest wooden chapel, which, with the growing number of parishioners, could no longer accommodate everyone, and then, in 1020, the abbot decided to build a large stone church. The current building of the Church of Saint-Michel, with magnificent carved portals depicting scenes from the Bible and famous mythical heroes, was built between 1497 and 1529. And a similar need arose due to an incident that occurred in 1430: one woman living in Monaco bought an ancient monstrance from a dealer in relics from looted ancient temples and tombs. Returning home, the woman began to examine her purchase and noticed that at the bottom of the monstrance there were remains of the “host” - this is Lenten bread used for communion. She decided to scrape it off with a knife, but only when she touched the bread, she saw that blood flowed from there, which then dried up, but left a mark in the form of an image of Jesus Christ on the throne. The surprised lady went to consult a priest, he took this “host” and sent it to Pope Eugene the Fourth, who presented the relic to the Duke of Burgundy. Thus, the “host” ended up in the French city of Dijon. And in order to have a place to store this priceless thing, they began to build a majestic cathedral, with the money of the rich residents of the city. This was in 1497. The building embodied the features of the Renaissance and “flaming” Gothic styles. In 1529, this church was consecrated. Unfortunately, three centuries later, the “host” disappeared from the face of the earth, becoming another victim of the Great French Revolution, and the cathedral lost its sacred significance. But the memory of the great Christian relic remained in medieval literature and on the stained glass windows of Catholic cathedrals in Burgundy. But, having lost its sacred value, the Church of Saint-Michel has not lost its greatness, still delighting everyone who sees it for the first time.

Or "Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims" in the city of Reims. Reims Cathedral, a beautiful and majestic building, managed to remain graceful and sophisticated despite its monumental size. Everything about this Catholic church in Reims is grand, yet subtle. Notre Dame began to be built back in 401, and in 1210, it burned down in a terrible fire. Within a few months, the temple began to be built anew, because it was impossible otherwise, since in the eleventh century a tradition arose to crown the kings of France there for the reign. Almost all French monarchs were crowned in the Reims Cathedral. The stunningly beautiful cathedral delights tourists with its charm to this day: its openwork and graceful appearance is the standard of Gothic architecture, emphasized by interesting sculptural decoration, fashionable in that era. Just one building on the façade of Reims Cathedral contains two thousand three hundred figures, of which the majestic gallery of fifty-six figures of French kings stands out. The medieval masterpiece is not so far from the aesthetics of modern art: if you go into the central chapel, you will pay attention to the interesting stained glass window, designed by the famous artist Marc Chagall in the twentieth century. It depicts the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the sacrifice of Isaac.

Or "Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres" in Chartres. The French provincial city of Chartres, located eighty kilometers from Paris, is where the French “Bible in Stone” and one of the most beautiful churches in the world are located - Notre Dame Cathedral. This Gothic monumental temple was built in just thirty years and was consecrated in 1260. Since then, it has remained virtually unchanged, which explains its global architectural significance and value. But, as always happens, this cathedral did not grow out of nowhere: the very first church was built on this site back in the fourth century, but it especially felt its fame in 876, from the moment the priceless Christian shrine was placed there - the “Protection of the Virgin Mary” , representing a piece of beige silk worn by the Virgin Mary while bringing her the “good news.” A lot of miracles are associated with this relic, and one of them is that the canvas miraculously survived a powerful fire in 1194, which lasted three days and destroyed the old building of the cathedral, which was built in the Romanesque style, and almost the entire city. The salvation of the relic, which defies logical explanation and could not have been anything other than a miracle, the people of Chartres realized that this was a sign and began to build a new temple, already in a beautiful Gothic style. A unique feature of this French temple is the presence of different towers on the western side of the facade: the fact is that it was decided to preserve the pyramidal bell tower that survived the fire, and it was included in the ensemble unchanged. On the other tower, you will see a very beautiful tent, in the style of flaming Gothic. Chartres Notre Dame Cathedral can be proud of its amazing stained glass windows, the area of ​​which reaches two thousand six hundred square meters. Stained glass windows were created from the twelfth to the thirteenth centuries, but unfortunately, the secret of their creation was lost in those distant times, however, we had the honor of seeing the best collection of European stained glass art. And yet, the cathedral attracts with its amazing rose windows: which, refracting the rays of the sun, throw multi-colored lightning across the interior of the cathedral, only complementing the splendor of its decoration. On the floor of Chartres Cathedral you will see a labyrinth - a symbol of the wandering of the human soul on the path to God. Its length is two hundred and sixty-two meters. There is a tradition to this day: if you want to repent and ask higher powers for forgiveness for your sins, then, like a medieval pilgrim, overcome this path on your knees, and God will have mercy on you.

Or "Notre Dame de Amiens" in Amiens. In the capital of the French region of Picardy - the city of Amiens, there is an amazing and very impressive Notre Dame Cathedral. Its construction began back in 1220 in honor of Saint Jean Baptiste: the fact is that his head was brought by the crusading knights from the Fourth Crusade in 1206. Surprisingly, the relics of the Christian Saint are still kept here, attracting hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from all over the world to Amiens. Notre Dame Cathedral in Amiens is not just one of the most beautiful French churches, but also a true embodiment of perfect beauty, as well as a medieval masterpiece of engineering. The building was erected in the classic Gothic style, but some design elements still lean towards the flaming Gothic style. The stunning facade of the Amiens Cathedral is in no way inferior in magnificence to the Notre Dame of Paris: it also has grandiose dimensions, an openwork rose window, three high portals, the Gallery of Kings, consisting of twenty-two giant statues, which are French kings, but symbolizing the kings of Judea. The cathedral is also remarkable inside, it is grandiose and majestic: a very tall, long hall, with one hundred and twenty-six thin columns on which the central nave rests, as if it elevates and brings anyone who enters it closer to God. Ideal proportions and perfection can be seen in all details. Inside the cathedral you will see the figure of the “Weeping Angel”, who sadly bends over a human skull, mourning the stupidity of the human race. This sculptural composition was created by Nicolas Blasset. At Amiens Cathedral you can see stunning carved benches, with images of more than four thousand mythical, biblical, and real characters, which were created by wood carvers in the sixteenth century. It is believed that Amiens Cathedral is the greatest creation of the art of architecture, and not every cathedral can outshine its beauty.

Or Sacre Coeur, Paris. For a long time, poor representatives of French bohemia settled on the Montmartre hill in the suburbs of Paris: artists, musicians, writers. And, first of all, this place attracted them with its cheapness. But it was these people who were able to radically change our ideas about art. Today, the Montmartre hill, located in the eighteenth arrondissement of Paris, is not only its highest point, but also the place where the inimitable and magnificent Basilica of the Sacred Heart - Sacre Coeur stands, and from where breathtaking views of the city open. The name of this hill is translated as “Mountain of Martyrs”: it takes us back to the ancient history of Christianity, but continues to remain relevant in the twenty-first century: for two centuries in a row, brilliant masters settled in Montmartre, often dying in hunger and poverty, becoming recognized geniuses and creators only after death. Despite the fact that today Montmartre is a prestigious district of Paris, the spirit of provincialism has been preserved here: poor artists painting on the street, poor street musicians, bars and cabarets and a lot of tourists who want to see with their own eyes the amazing architectural dominant of Montmartre - the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, which was erected in honor of the Sacred Heart of Christ. This huge church, shimmering in a milky pink color, is visible from all over Paris. It, along with the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, is a real symbol of the city. You can climb to the Sacré-Coeur Basilica on foot, climbing several hundred steps, or take a funicular. This French church absorbed elements of two styles - Romanesque and Byzantine. It is especially beautiful at night, when the lights come on: Sacre Coeur becomes similar to one of the fantastic palaces of ancient Byzantium. In the evenings, on the numerous steps of the church, numerous groups of tourists, local residents, musicians meet, they drink, sing, have fun, and the statue of Jesus Christ sternly looks down on them from the central facade of the basilica.

Or "Notre Dame de Paris" in Paris. This cathedral, located on the Ile de la Cité, in the middle of the Seine River, is the heart of Paris. Notre-Dame de Paris is a monumental building famous for its fantastic beauty. The cathedral grew up on the site of the very first Christian basilica in Paris, and it, in turn, was built on the ruins of an ancient Roman temple. Notre Dame Cathedral was founded in 1163, and it was built and increased in size until the nineteenth century, becoming a silent witness to all the great and terrible events of French history: St. Bartholomew's Night, the Great French Revolution, the rise to power of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, and so on. This is a Gothic cathedral with elements of Romanesque style. The building, although huge, is proportional. By the way, the cathedral reaches almost seventy meters in height, but next to it you don’t feel small, but, on the contrary, as if you are growing spiritually, encouraged by the power of divine power and the incredible energy of this place. Getting acquainted with the western facade of the cathedral, which displays the “Bible in Stone”, you are amazed at the scope and imagination of the architects: an amazing rose window, a grand gallery with twenty-eight figures of biblical kings, a scene of the Last Judgment inscribed on the central portal, famous figures of chimeras and gargoyles, images saints, mythical creatures, ordinary people. The cathedral houses an important Christian shrine - the crown of thorns of Christ. The famous writer Victor Hugo created an entire novel about this majestic temple, but even he failed to fully convey the feelings that overcome a person standing in front of Notre Dame Cathedral.

Or "Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Rouen" in Rouen . This ancient Catholic cathedral, the tallest church in France, is considered the country's great national monument and a true Gothic masterpiece. The French city of Rouen has long been called the “City of a Hundred Spires”, because it has many tall buildings with spiers, but the Rouen Cathedral surpasses them in its beauty. It was even immortalized by the artist Claude Monet in his paintings. The height of Rouen Cathedral is one hundred and fifty-one meters. The massive walls of this cathedral stretch along the Rue San Romano, which in the Middle Ages was considered the most prestigious in Rouen. This cathedral arose on the site of an ancient Christian basilica of the fourth century, which arose here after Bishop Mellon came to these parts and began preaching Christianity among the local residents. By the ninth century, a fairly large episcopal courtyard had formed here, which included two churches, the Cathedral in honor of the Mother of God, and the baptistery, but all this was razed to the ground by the Viking hordes that attacked the city of Rouen in 841. They left behind only ashes. And then, King Charles III the Simple, who ruled France in those years, in 911, having made concessions to the conquerors, agreed that Normandy should become a duchy and married his daughter Gisela to the Viking leader Rolland the Pedestrian, and he, in turn, accepted baptism, taking the name Robert. This is how the dynasty of the Dukes of Normandy appeared, and France protected itself from a new attack by the formidable northern conquerors of the seas. Duke Robert, in 1020, began construction of a majestic Catholic cathedral in the Romanesque style, his work was continued by his heirs. Unfortunately, only one crypt remains from that structure to this day. The oldest tower of the Raun Cathedral is the San Romain Tower, which is eight centuries old and was built in 1145. The cathedral was often destroyed due to natural disasters, human carelessness, for example, one nave burned down in a fire in the Middle Ages, in the eighteenth century the cathedral building suffered from a severe hurricane, and of course, one of the saddest pages in the history of the cathedral was the bombing of 1944 , which lasted throughout the whole night, during which the side tower was damaged; it fell on its side, damaging several load-bearing columns. But, fortunately, the cathedral did not fall apart, but miraculously stood until its restoration and restoration began, which lasted about twelve years. In our time, namely in 1999, the Rouen Cathedral was damaged by a strong storm when the elements damaged its bells, and in 2000 another tower collapsed, but since it happened at five in the morning, no one was injured. This ancient structure, created as if from stone lace, with amazing stained glass windows and a high spire, attracts thousands of tourists. By the way, inside the temple there is the tomb of the first Duke of Normandy, Rolland the Pedestrian, as well as the sarcophagus of King Richard the First or Richard the Lionheart, but the sarcophagus does not contain the entire body of the English king, who was also the Duke of Normandy, in the period from 1189 to 1199, but only his heart.

– a country where the most beautiful and amazing basilicas, cathedrals, churches, chapels and temples are concentrated. You probably noticed that every more or less significant city in this country necessarily has its own Notre Dame Cathedral, and there is nothing unusual in this, because the French are Catholics, and their Mother of God is revered even more than Jesus Christ, so and they erect large-scale religious buildings, dedicating them to the Virgin Mary. Regardless of who the temple or cathedral is dedicated to, each of them is stunning and magnificent, and we have only talked about a small part of the most beautiful cathedrals in France.

The most famous cathedral in Paris is Notre Dame Cathedral (Notre Dame de Paris)

The cathedral was intended for serving Catholic masses and ceremonies. The laying of the first stone took place in 1163, but the work was completed only 150 years later. Throughout the history of the cathedral, its appearance has changed in accordance with the plans of a succession of architects and restorers. Thus, the famous chimeras decorating the roof of the building appeared only in the 18th century.

Currently, Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the key points of most tourist routes.

Located at the top, it is not only the largest cathedral in Paris, but also the highest built. The observation deck located next to the basilica is considered the best vantage point from which you can see the entire city. Despite the entrance fee, tourists tend to visit this place to get the best view of the city possible.

The appearance of the basilica is unusually different from most Catholic cathedrals in Paris, built in the Gothic style. The building is crowned with three domes made of specially selected stone, which only brightens from the rainfall that falls on it. This allows the basilica to maintain the original clean tone of the walls.

The Basilica of Saint Denis, built in the 12th century, became the first example of Gothic architecture, which became widespread among Catholic churches. This tall building with lancet windows and high arches amazes with its severity and solemnity. The main attraction of the basilica is the magnificent round window called the "Stained Glass Rose of Saint Denis". The sun's rays peeking into it color the gloomy vaults of the basilica with bright, cheerful colors.

For a long time, the Basilica of Saint-Denis was the tomb of French kings. It is here that almost all the famous royalty who played a significant role in history are buried. Tourists from all over the world still flock to the basilica to pay tribute to the monarchs and enjoy the unique beauty of this ancient Gothic structure.

Divine services and solemn masses are still held in many church buildings, the entrance to which is open to everyone. The cathedrals of Paris are worth a visit to get a feel for the spirit and history of the city. 

NOTRE DAME (Notre Dame Cathedral)

Notre Dame Cathedral was built in the western part of the Ile de la Cité, on the site where an ancient Roman altar dedicated to Jupiter stood in the 1st century AD. Among the Gothic churches of France, Notre Dame Cathedral stands out for the austere grandeur of its appearance. In terms of beauty, proportions, and the degree to which the idea of ​​Gothic art is embodied, this cathedral is a unique phenomenon.
Construction of the cathedral began in 1163 under Bishop Maurice de Sully. The first stone in the foundation of the temple was laid by Pope Alexander III. During the construction process, which was completed only by the middle of the 14th century, the original plan of the cathedral underwent a number of changes, adopting the features of mature Gothic art.
Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris houses one of the great relics of Christianity - the Crown of Thorns of Jesus Christ.
Until 1063, the Crown of Thorns was kept on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. In 1063 it was transported to the palace of the Byzantine emperors in Constantinople. In 1204, the sacred relic was captured by Western European crusading knights who burst into Constantinople and plundered the Christian city. Before this, for a thousand years the conqueror had not set foot on the stones of the streets of Constantinople.
Under the attacks of the crusaders, the Byzantine Empire fell apart into several parts. Constantinople found itself under the rule of a dynasty of some provincial princes, who insatiably plundered the remnants of the great heritage they had inherited, but were still constantly in need of money. One of them, Baldwin II, began selling sacred relics of Christianity to get out of debt. As a result, the Crown of Thorns went to the French King Louis IX.

St. de la MADLEINE

The Parisian Church of the Madeleine (French l "église de la Madeleine) is the Church of St. Mary Magdalene; located in the 8th arrondissement of the French capital, on the square of the same name; a striking example of neoclassicism in architecture.
The temple is illuminated through the vault - unlike other churches, the church has neither a transept nor side windows.
The history of the construction of the church stretched over 85 years due to the political instability of France at the end of the 18th - beginning of the 19th centuries. Construction began under Louis XV, in whose honor the Place de la Concorde and its surroundings were decorated, and who personally laid the first stone of the future church. The initial project was likened to the Invalides' Home - a cruciform structure with a dome. Napoleon wanted the temple to be dedicated to the victories of his army; the project was revised by the architect Vignon, but defeat in the Russian war of 1812 cost the temple its transformation into a railway station - the first in Paris - in 1837, and a return to its original purpose only in 1845.

One of the most beautiful churches in Paris is Sacre Coeur (“Sacre Coeur” - Church of the Heart of Christ). No matter where you are in the city, your gaze will definitely linger on the white domes of the Sacre Coeur Basilica, rising majestically on the top of the Montmartre hill. In its architectural appearance, there is a clear imitation of the Saint Fro Cathedral in Périgueux in southwestern France.
Situated at the top of Montmartre, the Sacré-Coeur Basilica was designed by the architect Abadie. The temple was built in memory of the victims of the Franco-Prussian War; funds for its construction were collected by public subscription.
The architects decided to build the Sacre Coeur church in the Roman-Byzantine style. And indeed, four small domes and one large one, firmly standing on a high drum, are clearly of Eastern origin. The elongated shape of the domes follows the silhouette of the famous 12th century basilica. Saint-Frond in Périgueux, in the south of France. Behind the church is a square bell tower, 84 meters high, with the famous bell, one of the largest bells in the world - it weighs 19 tons. This bell is a gift to the church from the province of Savoie, and therefore it bears the name “Savoyarde”. A magnificent staircase leads to the facade of the church with a portico of three arches: above the portico on both sides there are statues of Saint Louis and Joan of Arc. The magnificent facade of the church, slowly approaching the visitor as they climb the cascade of stairs, is decorated with sculptures of Christ and the Samaritan woman, Mary in Simon's house.
The inside of the church is richly decorated with mosaics; The original stained glass windows were destroyed during the Second World War. Mosaic panels above the pulpit depict scenes of worship of the Sacred Heart of Christ. The crypt under the temple is open to visitors and serves as an exhibition space for works of sacred art.

On the hill of St. Genevieve, rising 60 m above the level of the Seine (i.e. 84 m above sea level), stands the Pantheon - one of the landmarks of Paris, visible from different parts of the city.
The history of the Pantheon is essentially the history of human vanity, expressed here primarily in our inability to distinguish the eternal from the momentary: the name of the Pantheon itself has changed more than once throughout its relatively short history.
At the entrance of the Pantheon there is the inscription AUX GRANDS HOMMES LA PATRIE RECONNAISSANTE (“Grateful Fatherland to Great Men”).
In 1744, Louis XV vowed that if he recovered, he would build a church on the site of the old Abbey of Sainte-Genevieve. He recovered, but fulfilling his vow took him a long time. It was not until 1764 that Madame Pompadour's brother hired the architect Soufflot to design a church in the form of a Greek cross with a dome reminiscent of that of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. During the revolution of 1789, the First Convention decided to bury in this new church “the first of the great sons of France, citizen Mirabeau.”
And then it was decided to bury all the great people here.
The bell towers, which cost the architect his life, were demolished, the cross was removed, and on the bas-relief of the pediment above the main entrance, St. Genevieve was replaced by an allegorical figure of the Motherland, crowned by the ancient Greek goddess Truth. Under the bas-relief an inscription appeared: “To great people - a grateful fatherland.” In place of the cross they placed the figure of Glory. And the church was renamed the Pantheon.
After Mirabeau's funeral, Voltaire's ashes were transferred here.
After the Bourbon restoration, the Pantheon became a church again, and the inscription again mentioned not the “grateful fatherland”, but St. Genevieve. All the sculptures on the pediment were again replaced with appropriate ones and the dead began to be resettled again: Voltaire and Rousseau were removed into the crypt under the peristyle so that they would not be too much of an eyesore for the new government. But still, at least they didn’t take it out of the Pantheon this time...
After the revolution of 1830, the new “bourgeois king” Louis Philippe again renamed the church the Pantheon and placed Voltaire and Rousseau in their original places, and also (for the fourth time!) changed the bas-reliefs on the pediments. This time, the Motherland distributed wreaths, and History recorded who and for what. Mirabeau, Malesherbe, Fenelon, Bertholet, Laplace, Lafayette, Voltaire appeared on the bas-reliefs... Napoleon also appeared among them, but not the emperor - no, just General Bonaparte, as if he had always been a famous military leader and nothing more... A monument to Pierre also appeared Corneille.
And in 1847, from the Place de la Panthéon to the Luxembourg Gardens (to the present Place Edmond Rostand), a wide street was built, called Rue Soufflot. On the very spot where the forum of the Roman city of Upper Lutetia was once located.
In 1851, the Prince-President (later Napoleon III) again named the Pantheon the Church of St. Genevieve. And again - “forever and ever.” The cross was erected again. Exactly twenty years later, the Communards demolished the cross, replacing it with a red banner. Two years later, the Third Republic again erected the cross.
When the great exile Victor Hugo died in 1885, the same Third Republic again renamed the church the Pantheon and buried “Viscount Hugo” next to Voltaire.
The inscription “To great people - a grateful fatherland” was restored, but the cross was left on the dome. Then the ashes of the great doctor Cabanis and Marshal Lannes were transferred here. Later, Emile Zola and the leader of the French socialists Jean Jaurès were buried here, and relatively recently the ashes of Pierre and the only woman, Marie Curie, were transferred here. Soon after them, the famous philosopher of our time, writer, one of the leaders of the Resistance, and later the Minister of Culture in several de-Gaulle governments, Andre Malraux, was buried here. And already in the twentieth! century, Alexandre Dumas was buried here.

Its construction began in 1646; During the construction of the church, 6 architects changed. The latter, the Florentine Servandoni, decorated the façade with a two-tiered colonnade. The interior of the church is illuminated by daylight through numerous stained glass windows, which gives it a somewhat mysterious appearance. The first chapel to the right of the entrance was painted by E. Delacroix. Above the entrance is one of the best organs in France, made in 1776.
This church apparently has a certain magical aura. It is not without reason that in many fiction works of the 20th century. It is in it that mysterious events take place, secret and mysterious messages are discovered. Researchers of occult societies believe that Saint-Sulpice is associated with the powerful Masonic society, which has been covertly influencing European life for at least 10 centuries.

The cathedral was built on the site of a Gallo-Roman cemetery, where the first bishop of Paris, who was martyred around 250, was buried. There was once a famous monastery here
The history of the cathedral is closely connected with the monarchy. The tombs of French kings are located here, and many queens were crowned here.
Each tomb has a bas-relief of the person buried in it.
This is one of the most mysterious and amazing Cathedrals in Paris.

Royally majestic, created in the mature Gothic style, by order of Saint Louis, the Sainte-Chapelle chapel was erected as a royal church and was supposed to become a symbol of the sacred power of the French monarchs. Pieces of the Cross of Jesus Christ are kept here. The upper and lower chapels amaze with their beauty and splendor. The walls of the Sainte-Chapelle seem to dissolve, bringing to the fore an openwork pattern woven from multi-colored mosaics, the plots of which include hundreds of scenes and cover the entire story from creation to the arrival of the procession with the sacred relic in Paris. Sunlight, reflected in the windows, colors the entire interior space with bright reflections. Thin pilasters, going under the very arches of the vault, separate the stained glass windows, at the same time being an element of Gothic decor. It is worth seeing the divine stained glass windows: “The Last Supper”, “The Transfer of Shrines”, a beautiful rose window showing scenes from the Apocalypse, statues of the apostles, which are an amazing example of wood carving. Outside France, the Sainte-Chapelle became a model for Gothic buildings.

The Church of Saint-Eustache is comparable in size to Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, and the height of its vault is even several meters higher than the height of North Dame.
Architecturally, it is surprising in that it combines medieval Gothic with examples of the Italian Renaissance. And by adding modern sculpture, we generally get a stunning cocktail.

According to some sources, the history of France dates back to the Iron Age. Over the centuries, the most architecturally significant churches were built here. Gothic cathedrals and churches built by modern architects reflect a significant part of French culture. While visiting this amazing country, be sure to see the most beautiful and unusual churches in France!

A Roman Catholic cathedral in the French Gothic style was built in Bourges in the 13th century. The site on which it is located has had religious significance since at least the 3rd century. Today, the cathedral boasts three-story elevations and a grand façade decorated with intricate carvings. Incredibly, most of the original stained glass windows, which depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments, have been preserved.

Strasbourg Cathedral is sometimes called the Pink Cathedral, alluding to its unusual hue. The cathedral is built from sandstone, which gives it its pink color. On one side of the building there is a tall spire, although according to the design there should have been two. The architecture is both Romanesque and Gothic. Services are still held in the cathedral, which you can visit. Inside, be sure to find the astronomical clock, which dates back to the 19th century.

The town of Aubterre-sur-Dronne is small and picturesque, with traditional architecture and quaint houses. But the city's most incredible attraction is located underground. This is a monolithic Saint-Jean church, almost entirely carved from limestone. It was built in the 7th century and significantly expanded in the 12th century. The church has a vaulted nave, a baptismal pool and dozens of ancient burial grounds. Although this is far from a traditional French church, it is truly unique and one of a kind.

The city of Rouen is sometimes called the City of a Thousand Churches because there are so many of them. But the Rouen Cathedral stands out among them: it is the tallest in France. Listen to the hour bells chime on the giant 56-color carillon, marvel at the incredible staircase, and see the statues of saints adorning the cathedral's interior walls.

The Sacré-Coeur Basilica is one of the most famous churches in Paris. It is highly visited due to its location on a hill overlooking the famous Montmartre district. The church was designed in the Roman-Byzantine style, and is very similar to the famous Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. One of the main features of Sacre Coeur is the huge mosaic of Jesus with a heart of gold.

The beauty of the abbey largely depends on its location. The island of Mont Saint-Michel is only half a mile off the coast of Normandy, making access limited. Most of the island is occupied by an abbey built in the 15th century. Benedictine monks live here. The abbey is surrounded by quaint streets lined with museums dedicated to the history of the island, cafes and shops.

More than 800 years ago, construction began on Reims Cathedral. Today it is a stunning example of Gothic architecture and a major landmark in Reims. It was in this cathedral that many French kings were crowned. Records show that Joan of Arc attended one of these ceremonies in the 15th century. It took almost a century to complete the construction of the cathedral!

The most famous cathedral in France - Notre Dame de Paris - was built in the middle of the 12th century. The pearl of Parisian architecture is built in the Gothic style and is incredibly large. His "flying" buttresses were among the first in the world, and many gargoyles were used not only for design, but also to support columns and even as gutters. When visiting the cathedral, try to visit the extensive crypts below the church, which are open to the public.

Based on materials from: touropia.com