Quatre Églises, la Tour Eiffel, et le Grand Palais

Four churches plus the Grand Palais and Eiffel Tower

Looking at the skyline from left to right from the Printemps rooftop:

Notre Dame de l'Assomption built in 1676,

 

The double spires of Basilique Sainte Clothilde, 

built in the neo-Gothic style mid nineteenth century

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides,

commissioned by King Louis XIV in 1670

Église Saint Madeleine,

with its 52 Corinthian columns,

The Grand Palais,

built for the Universal Exposition of 1900

The Eiffel Tower (1889)

which at 324m. (1,063ft), was the tallest

man-made structure in the world, a title it held

for 41 years!

bon dimanche

Paris Skyline from Printemps

75009, Paris

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides - des drapeaux

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides

This "soldier's church" was constructed in 1677 and its dome is recognizable on the Paris horizon.  It is worth a visit for its almost blinding light, very different from most Paris churches.  The ornate details of the altar and the organ are offset by the graceful array of flags lining both sides of the nave.

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides

les Invalides

75007, Paris

 

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides

caryatid
télamon

This ornate organcase is attributed to Jules Hardouin-Mansart 

and includes two télamons supporting the massive platform of the organ pipes.

The architectural elements are quite detailed 

and the supporting right hand of the telamon appears to be real.

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides

Les Invalides

75007, Paris

A contributor to inSPIREd Sunday

See the other entries here

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides - l'orgue

Saint-Louis des Invalides

The design of this elaborate, ornate organcase is attributed to Jalues Hardouin-Mansart.  It is the only representative of the Louis-XIV era among the organs of Paris.

The instrument was built by Alexandre Thierry (1687).  Major revisions were carried out in the mid 1800s and more recently in 1957.  The organ is not the most ornate aspect of this mostly white and gilt church.  It is not my favorite but I can appreciate the detail as well as the sounds that are brought forth.

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides

Les Invalides

75007, Paris

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides III

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides


This dome which sits prominently on the Paris horizon is atop
 what is commonly called Les Invalides.  
The church is known as "The Soldiers' Church" 
and was constructed in 1677.  


Although many have visited Napoleon's tomb 
and toured the Musée de l'Armée, 
most of those have missed the interior 
of this bright and beautiful church.  


bon dimanche

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides

Les Invalides

75007, Paris

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides


Today is Epiphany, twelve days after Christmas in the Gregorian calendar, marking the end of the Christmas season.  It is also commonly known as Three Kings' Day, Twelfth Night, or the Feast of Epiphany.  It is one of the oldest Christian feasts and has been celebrated since the end of the second century.  


Today I will be making a galette des rois for my family 
and will share the recipe with you tomorrow.


bon dimanche

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides

Les Invalides

75007, Paris

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides

"The Soldiers Church"

 1677

This is a unique church in Paris with its shiny white marble walls 

and a glass partition separating it from the dome area 

which can be seen on the Paris city-scape.

Although it sits on a major tourist site, 

most have not seen nor even heard of this beautiful church. 

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides

Les Invalides

75007, Paris