Over the years, R. Howard Bloch has become renowned for the insider tours of Paris that he gives to students abroad. Long sought after by travellers and history buffs for his near-encyclopaedic knowledge of French cathedrals, the eminent French literature scholar finally shares his expertise with a wider audience. Not a cathedral or even a “church” in the traditional sense, La Sainte-Chapelle is actually a Royal Chapel,commissioned by King Louis IX (later Saint Louis) to house important relics that he acquired (including the purported crown of thorns of Christ.) Sainte Chapelle was built in the 13th century originally as a part of the Royal Residences on the Île de la Cité in Paris. The construction of the Dome Church began in 1677 and was completed in 1706. Crowned by its iconic gilded dome, the church was designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, and is most famous for serving as the final resting place for Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. It has an ornate Baroque façade, intricate interior decorations, and the captivating play of light that filters through its magnificent stained glass windows. Travel Insurance – It’s so important to have peace of mind that you are covered for any health needs, accidents, or even travel delays when you are on a trip. I recommend:

It was destroyed by the Vikings, rebuilt, and renamed in the 8th century for Saint Germain. Burials of French Kings and Queens eventually moved to the Basilica of Saint-Denis, far from the marauders who came along the Seine river. Saint-Germain-des-Près was originally founded in the 6th century by Childebert I, the King of the Franks, as an abbey dedicated to Saint Vincent, and it later took on the name of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in honor of Saint Germain, the Bishop of Paris.Over the years, R. Howard Bloch has become renowned for the insider tours of Paris that he gives to students abroad. Long sought after by travelers and history buffs for his near-encyclopedic knowledge of French cathedrals, the eminent French literature scholar finally shares his expertise with a wider audience. So infectious is R. Howard Bloch’s passion for his subject that even those unable to do the traveling required will find in Paris and Her Cathedrals an inspiring guide to these time-hallowed masterpieces of medieval culture.” —Colin Jones, author of Paris and The Great Nation Paris is home to 197 churches.These places of worship in Paris are rich with French history and so manyof them are worth a visit! It is believed that the earliest religious building on that location was a Gallo-Romantemple dedicated toJupiter. This was and still is the historical center of Paris. Like other churches on this list, Saint-Augustin is particularly known for its grand organ, which was built by the famous organ builder Aristide Cavaillé-Coll.

The Panthéon in Paris was originally intended to be a temple dedicated to Saint Genevieve who lived in the 5th century, at the time of the Roman Empire. Apply for the American Express Platinum Card here and for a limitied time get 80,000 bonus points (that’s easily enough for a round-trip flight to Europe from the USA!) on signup. The Basilica of Sacré-Cœuris unique amongst the churches in Paris because it is the only true Basilica. Second only to Notre-Dame in popularity, Sacre Coeur Basilica is an icon in its own right, perched at the highest point in Paris’s famous arts district: Montmartre.

L’église Saint-François-Xavier (Saint-François-Xavier Church) is a Roman Catholic church in Paris located in the 7th arrondissement. The entire church was built in the 19th century. It is dedicated to St. Francis Xavier, a Spanish Jesuit missionary who played a significant role in the spread of Christianity in Asia during the 16th century. Saint-Augustin was constructed during a time of transformation and modernization in Paris, and its Neo-Renaissance style represents the artistic trends of the Second French Empire. 14. Saint-François-Xavier Church in Paris Twin tower of St Francis Xavier’s Church, a Roman Catholic church in Paris Beyond its architecture, the real treasure of Saint-Denis Cathedral is its rich history. Saint-Denis has served as the final resting place for numerous French monarchs, including King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. In Paris and Her Cathedrals , six of the most sublime cathedrals in the penumbra of Paris—Saint-Denis, Notre-Dame, Chartres, Sainte-Chapelle, Amiens, Reims—are illumined in magnificent detail as Bloch, taking us from the High Middle Ages to the devastating fire that set Notre-Dame ablaze in 2019, traces the evolution of each in turn. Written from the premise that “seeing is enhanced by knowing,” each chapter is organized along the lines of a walk around and then through the space of the cathedral, such that the actual or virtual visitor feels the rich sweep of the church, “the essence of these architectural wonders” (Antonia Felix). Animating the past with lush evocations of architectural splendour—from flying buttresses and jewel-encrusted shrines to hidden burial grounds and secret chambers—Bloch then contextualises the cathedrals within the annals of French history. Here thrilling tales of kingly intrigue—as in Saint-Chapelle, where the pious King Louis IX amassed relics, including Christ’s crown of thorns—and audacious abbots are interspersed with anecdotes about the meeting of aristocratic and everyday life, culminating in “a rich, colourful narrative that clearly but expertly explains the history and symbolism of some of the world’s most magnificent buildings” (Ross King).

The Basilique Sainte-Clotilde, commonly known as Saint-Clotilde Basilica, is a Catholic church located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, France. Throughout the centuries, Notre-Dame Cathedral has played a central role in French history, witnessing the most important French coronations, marriages, and significant religious events. For history readers, travelers, and scholars alike, an indispensable behind-the-scenes guide to the great cathedrals of Paris. During the French Revolution, the neighboring Abbey of Sainte-Geneviève was largely demolished, and the church was spared from destruction due to its integration into the new Panthéon building as a symbolic gesture. For pure wonder and amazement, head to Sainte-Chapelle, very near Notre Dame. La Sainte-Chapelle is without a double one of, if not the, most beautiful churches of Paris.

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So infectious is R. Howard Bloch’s passion for his subject that even those unable to do the traveling required will find in Paris and Her Cathedrals an inspiring guide to these time-hallowed masterpieces of medieval culture.” —Colin Jones, author of Paris and The Great Nation