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 Saint Nicholas du Chardonnet

Église Saint Nicholas du Chardonnet

Like many of the churches in Paris (and France and all of Europe), 

this early 18th century church has a marble plaque 

listing those of the church who "Morts pour la France, 1914 - 1918"

This is but one church among hundreds in the city 

who lost a generation of young people to World War I.

bon dimanche

Église Saint Nicholas du Chardonnet

23, rue des Bernardins

75005, Paris

(joyeux anniversaire, Cherie)

Église Saint-Nicholas du Chardonnet

Église Saint-Nicholas du Chardonnet

On a quiet Monday morning 

the church was vacant with rows and row of chairs, 

and an abundance of shadows

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Nicholas du Chardonnet

23, rue des Barnardins

75005, Paris

Église Saint-Antoine-des-Quinze-Vingts - l'orgue

Église Saint-Antoine-des-Quinze-Vingts

the primary organ

This great organ comes from the instrument built 

by the renown Aristide Cavaille-Coll in 1894 for the mansion of Baron Espée.  

It was moved from the Baron's residence on 

Avenue Bois de Boulogne to Saint-Antoine in 1909.

You can click here to listen to a short piece on this organ.

Like many churches, there is a second organ, 

a practice organ for the choir, which I will show you another time.

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Antoine-des Quinze-Vingts

57, rue Traversière

75012, Paris

Église Notre Dame des Champs

Église Notre Dame des Champs

We sat and listened intently to the organ 

as the music filled every corner of the immense space.  

It was a rehearsal by Yannick Merlin, 

and we watched as he and his assistant 

descended the narrow spiral stairs behind the latticed enclosure,

seen at the back of the church (under the arches).

The organ was built by Cavaillé-Coll in 1877, 

just as the roman styled church was completed (a ten-year venture).

bon dimanche

Église Notre Dame des Champs

92 bis, boulevard du Montparnasse

75006, Paris

Chapelle Saint Vincent de Paul - les details

Chapelle Saint Vincent de Paul

This inconspicuous church sits only a block from Bon Marché 

and is hardly worth a glance from the street 

as its façade blends in with the other buildings on Rue de Sèvres.

  However, the interior is filled with treasures and a bit of mystery.  

There is a shrine to St Vincent de Paul, ornately adorned, 

a magnificent organ, and a link to Louis Braille.  

The details and imagery on the base of this statue are stunning.

 

 

bon dimanche

 

 

 

Chapelle Saint-Vincent-de-Paul

95, rue de Sèvres

75006, Paris

 

Église Saint-Quiriace

Église Saint-Quiriace

This church in the small town of Provins, just beyond Paris, 

was founded early in the 11th century.  

The town is divided into an Upper Town and a Lower Town,

 respectively called the Châtel (Castle) and the Val (Valley).

This church sits in its elevated position in the upper town, 

and although it has never been completed it is worthy of a visit.

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Quiriace

9, place Saint-Quiriace

77160, Provins, France

Église Saint-Laurent - l'orgue

Église Saint-Laurent

Saint-Laurent was founded in the 6th century as the chapel of an abbey.  

The present church dates to 1429 and finally completed in the 19th century.  

The organ was built by François and Hippolyte Du Castel 

between 1682 and 1685.  Over the centuries it has been 

rebuilt and restored in four different centuries 

but 20 original stops date from before the revolution.  

You can hear this magnificent organ 

on Saturday and Sunday masses and for occasional concerts.

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Laurent

68, boulevard de Magenta

75010, Paris

Métro Gare de l'Est

Église Saint-Agnan de Chartres

Église Saint-Agnan de Chartres

Chartres is a quick train ride from Paris, 

and an easy day trip.

If you are there to see the cathedral, 

do not miss the other churches such as 

Église Saint-Agnan de Chartres and Église Saint-Pierre.  

Each is unique and exquisite in detail.

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Aignan de Chartres

12, place de l'Etape au Vin

28000, Chartres

Bassin de la Villette - la vie quotidienne

Bassin de la Villette

 

 

 

This is a scene far from the tourist crowds of Paris,

but is a favorite spot for the Parisians on a Sunday afternoon.

 

 

Pétanque (more games than I could count),

picnics among friends,

multi-generation families out for a water-side stroll,

children at play riding trotinettes...

 

 

There is something here for everyone.

 

 

 

Bassin de la Villette

Quai de la Loire

75019, Paris

Métro Laumière

 

 



 

 

 



Église Saint-Étienne du Mont

 

 

 

Église Saint-Étienne du Mont

 

 

 

One of my favorite churches in Paris...

 

light, airy,

filled with architectural details and history

 

 

 

bon dimanche

 

 

 

Église Saint-Étienne du Mont

1, place Ste-Geneviève

75005, Paris

 

 



Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

Beautiful from any angle, but this view is my favorite.

When you consider that this icon of Paris has seen nine centuries of history, 

she looks like she will be around for many more.

If you come around to this side of Notre Dame, 

you can enjoy an unobstructed view (sans beaucoup de touristes) 

and enjoy a shaded bench as well.

bon dimanche

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

(seen from Square Jean XXIII)

75004, 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

 

Eglise Saint Eustache

Saint Eustache

This view is no longer - 

Taken from the steps leading up from Les Halles, 

this masterpiece of late Gothic architecture 

took over 100 years to buiild and was completed in the mid-1600s.

bon dimanche

Eglise Saint Eustache

75002, Paris

Église de la Sainte-Trinité

Église de la Sainte-Trinité

The blue skies and pink blooms of spring
frame this elegant church.


bon dimanche

Église de la Sainte-Trinité

 66, rue Saint Lazare

75009, 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-Étienne du Mont - un kaléidoscope

Église Saint-Étienne du Mont

a kaleidoscope

The stained glass windows provide a colorful backdrop 

for the ruby glass of the altar candelabra

bon dimanche

Église Saint Étienne du Mont

1, place Ste-Geneviève

75005, Paris

Église Saint-Agnan de Chartres

Église Saint-Agnan de Chartres:

a simple iron gate* in a 500 year-old church

joyeuses Pâques

Église Saint-Aignan de Chartres

12, place de l'Etape au Vin

28000, Chartres

 

*with cobwebs 

Panthéon et Église Saint Étienne du Mont

Looking across the end of the Square de l'Île de France the textures and colors are punctuated by the 5ème arrondissement's notable skyline.  The Panthéon is the tallest building and Église Saint Étienne du Mont is to the left, an easy walk from Pont Saint Louis where this photo was taken.

bon dimanche

from Pont Saint Louis

75004, Paris

La Basilique du Sacré Coeur de Montmartre

Sacré Coeur

This notable basilica made of travertine stone displays its white stamp on the Paris landscape.  This sacred landmark sits high on the butte of Montmartre overseeing all of Paris.

The photo was taken from my perch at the Temple of Sybil which sits on Buttes Chaumont.

bon dimanche

La Basilique du Sacré Coeur de Montmartre

35, rue du Chevalier de la Barre

75018, Paris