Église Saint-Laurent

Église Saint-Laurent

I discovered this large neo-Gothic church

through a blog-friend who I was able to meet

face-to-face.  Cynthia's beautiful and informative post

is linked here.

Like many of the churches in Paris

(and in all of Europe), Saint-Laurent saw many additions

and revisions over several centuries. 

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Laurent

68, boulevard de Magenta

75010, Paris

Église Saint Pierre - Chartres

Église Saint Pierre

Saint-Pierre Church in Chartres is not as well known 

as the Cathedral of our Lady of Chartres,

 but this 13th Century church is a Gothic masterpiece 

with some windows surviving from the 14th Century.

bon dimanche

Église Saint Pierre

rue Pétion

28000, Chartres

Basilique Saint Denis

Basilique Saint Denis

It is worth the trip to the outskirts of Paris to see this basilica, 

with its outstanding array of 

stained glass windows, 

Gothic arches, 

funerary art, 

tombs and sculptures.

bon dimanche

Basilique Saint Denis

1, rue de la Légion d'Honneur

92300, Saint-Denis

 

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

Notre Dame

If you go to this well-known landmark very early in the morning 

when the doors are first opened 

(and it is not in the months of March through October), 

you can take your time photographing the amazing architecture 

and details absent the crowds.  

The Cathedral is open every day at 8am 

and on Saturdays and Sundays at 7:15am.

Since I did not take my own advice on this particular visit, 

you will notice that my photo (and all of the others I took) 

are aimed away from the tourists.

bon dimanche

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

6 Parvis Notre Dame

Place Jean-Paul II

75004, Paris

 

Chapelle Notre Dame des Anges

Chapelle Notre Dame des Anges

The plain street exterior of this church belies 

the exquisite Gothic Revival architecture of the interior.

There are nearly forty stained glass windows,

each with a story to tell.

bon dimanche

(a bit late)

Chapelle Notre Dame des Anges

104, rue de Vaugirard

75006, Paris

Église Sainte-Chapelle

Église Sainte-Chapelle

Miracle of Light

This Gothic masterpiece built in 1246 is an incredible feat of construction.  The upper chapel seen here surrounds the visitor with soaring stained glass windows of deep, vibrant primary colors.  The ceiling design and structure is unique and recognized the world over.  

The architectural prowess of the 13th century rivals any construction we might see today.  Sainte-Chapelle is essentially a building of glass supported only by the narrow rib-like cages that press the entire weight of the roof  through a system of arches on to a few columns - amazing!

bon dimanche

Église Sainte-Chapelle

4, boulevard du Palais

75001, Paris

Église Saint-Eustache

 

 

 

Église Saint-Eustache

 

 

This masterpiece of late Gothic architecture unveiled a bell tower framed in blue skies and white clouds, a reward for looking up.  The tower is finished in Renaissance style which would be expected for a church of this age.  Rennovation and reconstruction over the centuries produced many interesting details.

 

 

The construction of the present church was begun in 1532 and finished over a hundred years later.  The first church on this site was established in 1223. 

 

 

 

 

bon dimanche

 

 

 

Église Saint-Eustache

2, impasse Saint-Eustache

75001, Paris

 

 



Cathédral Notre-Dame de Chartres - un détail

Chartres Cathedral

12th Century Gothic

The 300 narrow, winding steps to the bell tower 

reward the adventurous climber with a quiet and lofty view of Chartres 

as well as intricate details.  

The cathedral artisans carved images of beasts and flowers 

in places where they would not be easily seen by anyone but God.

bon dimanche

Cathédral Notre-Dame de Chartres

Chartres, France
(an easy day-trip from Paris by train)

Église Saint-Merri - La Fontaine Stravinsky

Église Saint-Merri

The Stravinsky Fountain

The whimsy of 16 animated sculptures stands in contrast 

to the flying buttresses of this ancient church 

with its "Gothic Flamboyant" architectural style.

The fountain sculptures were installed in 1983...

The church built between 1500 and 1550...

Which of these two Paris landmarks will look the best in 200 years?

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Merri

76, rue de la Verrerie

75004, Paris

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

Last Sunday's post of Notre Dame was a night view

 of the east side of this great cathedral.  

I thought that you might like to see 

the same perspective under blue skies.

bon dimanche

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

6 Parvis Notre Dame

Place Jean-Paul II

75004, Paris

Église Saint-Merri

Église Saint-Merri

This church was constructed between 1500 and 1550 

in a style called "Gothic flamboyant."  

Surviving the French Revolution is the oldest bell in Paris, 

cast in 1331.  (That is not a typo... 1331!!)

This church was reported as a site of the 1832 barricades 

fighting in a republican uprising against the July Monarchy.  

I will be going back to my unabridged Les Miserables to look for clues.

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Merri

76, rue de la Verrerie

75004, Paris

Église Sainte-Chapelle

Église Sainte-Chapelle

The devout King Louis IX founded the Gothic Sainte-Chapelle 
as a chapel for the royal palace and to house sacred relics.  
It is reported that he spent three times 
the cost of the chapel's construction 
for the "Crown of Thorns."


Built in 1246, it also provided easy underground access 
to the royal palace.  Almost all of the precious relics 
were lost or destroyed during the French Revolution.



bon dimanche

Sainte-Chapelle
4, boulevard du Palais
75001, Paris

Église Saint-Séverin

Église Saint-Séverin

One of the oldest churches in Paris, the early Romanesque building was replaced with Gothic architecture at the beginning of the thirteenth century.  It is well-known in the 5ème arrondissement for the exterior gargoyles and the original bells cast in 1412.

Fires and wars required rebuilding and renovation over the centuries.

The scenes such as this in the oldest parts of the church are my favorites.

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Séverin

3, rue des Prêtres Saint-Séverin

75005, Paris