Religious monuments

The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, is the most visited monument in France.

It was built in the Middle Ages, at the far end of the Île de la Cité. Work started in the 13th century and finished in the 15th century. Badly damaged during the French Revolution, the cathedral was restored in the 19th century by the architect, Viollet-le-Duc. Its many visitors come to admire its stained glass and rose windows, the towers, the steeple and the gargoyles. They can also discover the Notre-Dame treasury and try and climb the towers to enjoy a panoramic view of Paris. More info about the Cathedral here.

Address: 6 place du Parvis Notre-Dame, 75004 Paris
Access: District Notres-Dame - Ile Saint-Louis / RER Saint-Michel - Notre-Dame / Buses: 21, 24, 27, 38, 47, 85, 96
Opening hours: 8am - 6.45pm (7.15pm on Saturdays and Sundays)
Treasury hours: 9.30am - 6pm (Monday to Friday) / 9.30am - 6.30pm (Saturdays) / 1.30pm - 6.30pm (Sundays)
Phone: +33 (0) 1 42 34 56 10

Situated on the Ile de la Cité, a short walk from Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Sainte-Chapelle chapel is a jewel of Gothic art. It was built in the 12th century, upon the order of King Saint-Louis, to house Christ’s Crown of Thorns, now held at Notre-Dame. The upper chapel of the monument is covered in 600 m² of stained-glass windows, of which 2/3 are authentic. Find out more here. 

It’s one of the most complete and remarkable sets of stained glass of this era.

Address: 8 boulevard du Palais 75001 Paris
Phone : +33 (0) 1 53 40 60 80
Access: Metro: Cité / Buses: 21, 27, 38, 85, 96 and Balabus / RER: Saint-Michel - Notre-Dame
From 1 November to 28 February: 9am to 5pm

The Sacré-Coeur, consecrated in 1919, is one of the most iconic monuments in Paris.

At the top of the Butte Montmartre, it provides one of the most beautiful panoramic views of the capital, from more than 400 metres above ground. In a Roman-Byzantine style, the Sacré Coeur is recognizable by its white colour. Inside the building, the ceiling is decorated with the largest mosaic in France measuring about 480 m². The crypt is worth a visit.

A bit higher up, visitors can access the dome where the 360° view of Paris is magnificent. A short walk from the Sacré Coeur is the Place du Tertre, the district of Abbesses with its steep, winding roads, and at the bottom of the hill, the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret. See more here.

Address: Parvis du Sacré Coeur, 75018 Paris
Opening Hours: 9am - 11pm

Opened in 1824, the Montparnasse cemetery, which has a surface area of 19 hectares, is the 2nd largest necropolis in Paris, after the Père Lachaise cemetery. 

Full of trees, the cemetery occupies the former site of 3 farms, of which a listed tower belonging to one of the flour mills still stands. Among some of the famous works of art at the cemetery is 'Le Baiser' (The Kiss) by the sculptor Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957). Visitors can discover the burial places of famous men and women: Charles Baudelaire, Guy de Maupassant, Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Charles Garnier. A haven of peace at the heart of one of the liveliest districts in Paris.

Address: 3 boulevard Edgard Quinet 75014 Paris
Metro: Raspail / Bus: 68

Église du Dôme has a sparkling golden dome (1677–1735) and is one of the finest religious edifices erected under Louis XIV.

It received the remains of Napoleon in 1840. The very extravagant Tombeau de Napoléon 1er, in the centre of the church, comprises six coffins fitting into one another like a Russian matryoshka doll.

Address: Avenue de Tourville, 75007 Paris, France
Metro: Invalides, Varenne and La Tour-Maubourg
Opening Hours: 10am-7pm Jul & Aug, to 6pm Sep & Apr-Jun, to 5pm Oct-Mar

Madeleine Church is a Catholic church occupying a commanding position in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. 

The Madeleine Church was designed in its present form as a temple to the glory of Napoleon's army. To its south lies the Place de la Concorde, to the east is the Place Vendome, and to the west Saint-Augustin. More info about the Church here.

Address: Place de la Madeleine, 75008 Paris, France
Metro: Madeleine
Phone: +33 1 44 51 69 00
Opening Hours: 9:30am – 7pm

The Royal Basilica of Saint-Denis was part of a prosperous and powerful abbey during the Middle Ages and was the first monumental masterpiece of Gothic art. The royal necropolis houses the tombs of French kings and remarkable funerary sculptures dating back to between the 12th and 16th centuries (Dagobert, Pépin le Bref, François I, Catherine de Médicis, etc.). See more about the Basilica here.

Address: 1 rue de la Légion d'Honneur 93200 Saint-Denis
Metro: Basilique de Saint-Denis / RER: Saint-Denis
Phone: +33 (0) 1 48 09 83 54

The Chapelle expiatoire ("Expiatory Chapel") is a chapel located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France. This chapel is dedicated to Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette, although they are formally buried in the Basilica of St Denis. More info here.

Address: 29 Rue Pasquier, 75008 Paris, France
Metro: lines 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14
/ Bus: lines 32, 43, 49, 84, 94
Phone: +33 1 44 54 19 33

Montmartre Cemetery is a cemetery in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, France.

Address: 20, avenue Rachel 75018 Paris
Metro: La Fourche, Place de Clichy
Phone: 01 53 42 36 30
Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm

Built in the 17th century, with foundations from the 12th century, the Eglise Saint-Sulpice is one of the biggest churches in Paris. Located in the heart of the 6th arrondissement, in the Saint-Germain-des-Près district, it is definitely worth a visit. 

Inside, admire the nave, the Chapelle de la Vierge with a statue of Jean-Baptiste Pigalle, the sacristy and its wood-panelling in a Louis XV style, mural paintings by Eugène Delacroix, and the large organ by Cavaillé-Coll. The Eglise Saint-Sulpice is one of the sites in Paris where the 'Da Vinci Code' by Dan Brown, best seller in 2003, was filmed.

Address: 2 rue Palatine
, 75006 Paris
Metro: Mabillon, Odéon, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Saint-Sulpice / Buses: 58, 63, 70, 86, 87, 89, 95
Phone: +33 (0) 1 42 34 59 98

The Eglise Saint-Eustache is one of the most visited churches in Paris. Already considered as one of the most beautiful religious monuments in the capital, thanks to the richness of the works of art that it houses, the Eglise Saint-Eustache is known for its unusual dimensions (33m tall, 100m long and 43m wide) which make it seem more like a cathedral.

Returned to its former glory after the clearing of the space which used to be occupied by the ancient Paris markets (Les Halles), the church spread out its traditional Gothic buttresses and its slender form. Built between 1532 and 1637 on the site of an old chapel, it maintains a Gothic appearance which is unfortunately tainted by the classic facade which was added in the 18th century.

After burning down in 1840, it was restored by Baltard. In contrast with this persistant Gothic style, the decor is of Renaissance, if not classic, style. Among the rich works of art include 'Martyre de Saint Eustache' by Vouet, as well as the statue of the Virgin Mary by Pigalle. More info here.

Address: 2 rue du Jour - Place du Jour
75001 Paris
Metro: Les Halles / RER: Châtelet - Les Halles

The beautiful nave Saint-Germain-des-Prés church is the only remain of the Romanesque buildings in Paris. The choir was built later (first gothic style). Take a look at the beautiful gothic capitals in the ambulatory.

Address: 3 place Saint-Germain-des-Prés
75006 Paris
Metro: Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Monday to Saturday : 8.00am - 7.45pm On Sunday : 9.00am - 8.00pm
Phone: +33 (0) 1 43 25 41 71

Founded in the 7th century, the church was rebuilt many times over several centuries. It now has construction in Roman, Gothic and Renaissance styles. The most striking exterior feature is the porch, with a rose window and a balustrade above which encircles the whole church, a work of Jean Gaussel (1435-39). See more here.

Address: 2 place du Louvre
, 75001 Paris
Metro: Louvre – Rivoli
Opening Hours: During the week: 8am – 7pm; Sunday: 9am – 8pm
Phone: +33 (0) 1 42 60 13 96

Saint-Louis-en-l'Ile Church was built between 1664 and 1726 (plans by Le Vau, the royal architect of Versailles) and dedicated to Saint Louis. Curious church tower and clock (XVIIIth century). Many valuable paintings (Carle Van Loo). 

Address: 19 bis rue Saint-Louis-en-l'Île
75004 Paris
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 9.00am - 12.00am / 3.00pm - 7.00pm Sunday services : 9.30am, 11.00am
Metro: Pont Marie
Phone: +33 (0) 1 46 34 11 60

The Père Lachaise cemetery is the most prestigious and most visited necropolis in Paris. Situated in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, it extends 44 hectares and contains 70,000 burial plots. The cemetery is a mix between an English park and a shrine. All funerary art style are represented: Gothic graves, Haussmanian burial chambers, ancient mausoleums, etc. 

On the green paths, visitors cross the burial places of famous men and women; Honoré de Balzac, Guillaume Apollinaire, Frédéric Chopin, Colette, Jean-François Champollion, Jean de La Fontaine, Molière, Yves Montand, Simone Signoret, Jim Morrison, Alfred de Musset, Edith Piaf, Camille Pissarro and Oscar Wilde are among some of them. Find out more about the Père Lachaise cemetery here.