7 of the Most Beautiful Churches in Paris France
Paris is known for many things—great museums, great food, great wine, great street scenes, great ambience, and great churches.
We are going to explore some of the most beautiful churches to visit in Paris. Check out some of my favorites, and why.
I know some people are thinking, why churches? My short answer is, why not churches? My long answer is that they are a peek into the past, and offer fascinating architectural and cultural tidbits.
Some of the best churches to visit in Paris are no longer used as religious facilities. Some are. Some are not even recognizable as churches to modern travelers.
On all of my visits to Paris, I’ve visited a few churches—either because they were near where I was staying, or because they were famous. I have to admit, I am hooked on visiting churches, not because they are churches, but because they are often beautiful. Here are a few highlights.
Notre Dame–if not the most beautiful church in Paris, it certainly is the most famous
Ok, I know there’s Notre Dame, but we can’t actually visit right at the moment (although the walk around the perimeter with photos of the fire and the restoration activities will make your eyes tear up).
This church epitomizes Paris to thousands of people. What I learned when I first visited Notre Dame is that Notre Dame is a very common name for cathedrals in France. Since then, I’ve been to a dozen or so other Notre Dames, but none really can equal the Notre Dame de Paris.
Notre Dame’s courtyard marks the historic center of Paris and is the point from which all distances are measured. There is a rose compass marking that spot.
The gargoyles and turrets of Notre Dame are world famous, and don’t really need much more explanation from me.
In addition to the glorious exterior, the church housed sculpture and art galore. Of particular note is the 14th century Madonna and Child, which is world famous.
For now, we can visit the website, and take a virtual tour. I look forward to visiting again when restoration is completed.
Address: 6 Parvis Notre-Dame | Place Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris
Status: closed
Metro: Cité, Line 4
Holy Chapel/La Sainte Chappelle may be the most beautiful church in Paris
Another world-famous Paris church is St. Chappelle, which is no longer used as a church. It is also on the Ile de la Cite, close to Notre Dame, and makes a logical stop when there.
Many people view it as the most beautiful church in Paris. When you visit it, you may agree. It certainly has the most stunning stained glass I’ve ever seen.
Originally built by King Louis XIV, it housed relics, and served as his family and personal worship space. It is an example of Gothic architecture gone wild (formally known as the Rayonnant period of Gothic architecture).
Nowadays it is basically a museum, but offers a chance to look back in time to what life was like for those at the top of the social hierarchy. It, along with the nearby Conciergerie, is the last remnant of the Palais de la Cite.
This may well be one of the most glorious buildings in France. It has over 6500 square feet of stained glass, depicting over 1100 figures. This is also the oldest stained glass collection in Paris.
One could spend hours just watching the way the light changes over the course of a day, but it can be seen in about an hour if pressed. Late afternoon can be a gorgeous time as the slanted light creates amazing color and visual effects. Weekday mornings are less crowded, however.
There are often (usually) long lines to enter, so plan accordingly.
Address: 8 Boulevard du Palais, 75001 Paris
Hours: Daily Jan 2 to March 31: 9:00 am to 5:00, April 1 to Sept 30: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, Oct 31 to Dec 31: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Entry fee: 10 €
Insider tips: Buy a combined ticket at the Conciergerie for both the Conciergerie and Sainte-Chapelle. This way, you’ll save time and have a much shorter line. Sainte-Chapelle accepts the Paris Museum Pass. But it isn’t a no-queuing option.
Sacre Couer was not viewed by many Parisians as beautiful at all when it was started
Sacre Couer, in Paris’ Montmartre district, may be, to some, another landmark that epitomizes Paris for them. It is actually quite a new building (by Parisian standards, at least), the first stone having been laid in 1875.
When Lori and I visited in February, 2020, the display in the lower level was very interesting, and incredibly well done. It included vestments, as well as an interesting historical view of the church’s construction.
Getting to Sacre Couer can be a challenge, if you choose to either climb the steps in the front, or take the winding paths and stairs on the side. Another option, which does allow great views of Paris, is the funicular. The funicular is included in the Paris Pass public transportation ticket, so is a good option.
Address: 35, Rue de la Chevalier De le Barre 75018 Paris
Hours: 6 am to 1030 pm
Entry fee: free
Metro: Abbesses, Anvers, Funiculaire
The Pantheon is a gorgeous example of a beautiful church turned museum
Less well-known, and also now a museum rather than a place of worship, is the Pantheon. It is a 1700s neo-classical structure on the Left Bank, near the Sorbonne, which now houses the crypts of many famous Parisians. It is in the form of a Greek cross, with an impressive dome on the top, and is often said to have been built to outdo St. Peter’s in Rome and St. Paul’s in London.
It is also the location of a Foucault’s Pendulum, originally used to prove the earth’s rotational cycle.
The Pantheon is full of gorgeous stonework, and I imagine the hours and years it took the stonemasons to create it.
Address: Place du Panthéon 75005 Paris
Hours: 10:00 am to 6:30 pm from April to September. Closing at 6:00 on from October to March
Entry fee: €9, €3 extra to access the upper parts of the Panthéon from April to October
Metro: Jardin des Plantes
St. Etienne du Mont is a lesser known, but nonetheless beautiful church
Also located near our hotel, and found quite by accident as we were walking back to the hotel one day, is the St. Etienne du Mont, which now contains the shrine of St. Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris.
The style of this church showcases the transition from the Gothic style to more of a Renaissance style, with its focus on the styles of ancient Rome and Greece. The façade has pediments and pillars rather than flying buttresses.
This church also boasts the oldest organ in Paris, which remains in use to this day as well.
Another lesser-known, but lovely church to visit while wandering the streets of the Left Bank.
Address: Place Sainte-Geneviève, 75005 Pari
Entry fee: free
Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 8:00 am-7:45 pm; Saturday: 8.45 am to noon, & 2:00pm-7:45pm; Sunday: 8:45 am-12:15 & 2:00 pm-7:45 pm.
Metro: Sorbonne
St. Eustache is a gorgeous church I found while wandering
Eglise St. Eustache is another gorgeous church found while wandering (I may have been lost) around Paris. It, like many others, is in a style I find appealing. It has a lovely rose window, and is quite beautiful.
The church has never actually been completed according to the latest plans, and is known as an unfinished jewel among many Parisians and visitors alike.
A church, honoring St. Eustache, has been located here since the 12th century, and has seen several rebuilds and enlargements. The current church still functions, but is also open to visitors during times when no service is being performed. They do have an audio guide, in French and English.
Address: 2 impasse Saint Eustache, 75001 Paris
Hours: Monday to Friday: 9:30 am to 7:00 pm, Saturday: 10:00 am to 7:15 pm, Sunday: 9:15 am to 7:15 pm
Entry fee: free
Insider tip: There are organ recitals on Sundays from 5:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Eglise St. Sulpice is one of my favorite churches in Paris
St. Sulpice is still a functioning church, offering regular services. It is actually the second largest church in Paris, second only to Notre Dame.
We visited St. Sulpice for an organ concert. It has one of the oldest and largest functioning pipe organ set ups in the world—originally installed in the 1850s and still sounding fabulous. (I love pipe organs, so you’ll find quite a few stops around the world to hear them in my recommendations.)
St. Sulpice happened to be near our hotel and thus it was an easy stop to add to one of our day’s wandering. However, if you love pipe organ music, or need the grandeur of a massive Gothic church, it is well worth the visit even if not near any other place you are visiting.
St. Sulpice also has a lovely series of murals (restored in 2015) by Delacroix, which are worth a visit as well.
I found St. Sulpice to be a somewhat overlooked treasure I highly recommend. We listened to the organ concert which preceeded a mass, but often concerts are offered at other times as well.
Address: 2 Rue Palatine, 75006 Paris
Hours: Open daily 7:30 am to 7:30 pm
Entry fee: free
Metro: Saint-Sulpice, line 4
Insider Tip: check out their organ concerts as well
I’ve visited all of these churches at one time or another, and managed to visit 5 of them on my latest visit. Many take only a short time to visit, and offer a peaceful respite at any time. Some charge admission, many do not. Check the websites for hours of operations and when they have services or concerts so that you can plan your visits. And check out nearby cafes for a café crème or a vin blanc to enjoy before or after your visit.
Do you have a favorite church in Paris? Which do you think are the most beautiful churches in Paris? Let me know, so I can visit them soon.