La Seine, le Pont au Change, Dôme des Invalides...

The Seine, Pont au Change, the dome of Invalides...

...and faintly seen in the background is la Tour Eiffel, 

a little surprise I had not noticed in my photo

de Quai de Gesvres

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

 

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

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

Cathédrale Saint-Louis des Invalides

known simply as

Les Invalides

The dome is recognized on the Paris landscape

but interior is stunning

The organ was build between 1679 and 1687 by the royl organ builder, Alexandre Thierry. 

Wear and tear, including war, could have left this organ in a sad state. 

Repairs and rebuilding have brought this magnificent organ to its full potential. 

bon dimanche

Cathédrale Saint-Louis des Invalides
76007, Paris