Paris Digest
Paris city guide since 1997
Churches in Paris contribute greatly to the beauty of the city. Notre-Dame Cathedral, Sainte-Chapelle and the Sacré-Coeur are the most famous churches. Masses are held in almost all churches. There is always a mass near you. Paris monuments.
The Catholic Church has played a key role in the history of the city since the baptism of King Clovis in 496 by Bishop Rémi in Rheims, the capital of Champagne. Clovis was therefore the first French Christian King. Clovis also established Paris as the capital of France in 508.
The bishopric of Paris was created in the fourth century. According to the tradition, the city was evangelized by Saint-Denis, the first bishop of the city, who was martyred in Montmartre and buried in Saint-Denis.
Christianity is everywhere visible in the city. 137 churches from the 11th century up to the 21st century embellish the city and structure its spiritual life. The seat of the archdiocese is at Notre-Dame Cathedral. In the city, there are 106 parishes, 80 male religious communities and 140 female religious communities. The Emmanuel, Chemin Neuf and Neo-catéchuménat communities are also very active.
Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre and the Sainte-Chapelle (no masses) near Notre-Dame are rightly world famous churches. The fire of April 15th 2019 destroyed part of Notre-Dame, which will reopen for Christmas 2024.
The Panthéon, formerly Sainte-Geneviève Church, was turned into a memorial for illustrious Frenchmen during the French revolution. Les Invalides, a 17th century military hospital, has two great churches. The dome hosts Napoleon's tomb. The Catholic churches are not just great monuments. The Catholic faith is very alive in the city.
The only Catholic masses in English in the city are held at Saint Joseph's Church, the english speaking catholic church of the City of Lights. Founded in 1863, it is staffed by priests of the Congregation of the Passion and located 50, avenue Hoche 75008 near Champs-Elysées. Paris map.
Masses: Saturday - 11am, 6.30pm, Sunday - 9.30am, 11am, 12.30pm, 6.30pm, Monday through Friday - 8.30am, July & August - Sunday 10am, 12.00 noon and 6.30pm. Web site
To find a mass near you, check Paris church web site. Enter the street number, street name and zip code of your location into the "Votre adresse à Paris" search box. Press OK and you get the church nearest to you.
Popular Catholic faith is most visible at the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal on the left bank with its 2 million pilgrims yearly from all over the world. Since the 1st of August 1885, a daily 11pm to 7am silent night adoration takes place inside Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre. Notre-Dame des Victoires and Saint-Louis d'Antin are two always on Catholic communities. The Saint-Germain-des-Près Catholic Community is very active, including the well known Even student program.
The 11am Sunday mass in Saint-Gervais Church, animated by the Jerusalem monastic Community is a moving mass.
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
140, rue du Bac 75007
Saint-Germain-des-Près
3 Place Saint-Germain-des-Près, 75006 Paris
Saint-Eustache web site (map)
2 impasse Saint-Eustache 75001 Paris
Saint-Etienne-du-Mont web site (map)
Place Sainte-Geneviève 75005 Paris
Saint-Gervais web site (map)
Place Saint-Gervais 75004 Paris
Saint-Sulpice web site (map)
Pace Saint-Sulpice 75006 Paris
Notre-Dame des Victoires web site (map)
6, rue Notre-Dame des Victoires 75002 Paris
Saint-Roch web site (map)
296 rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris
Val-de-Grâce (Mass 11am on Sunday)
Place Alphonse Laveran 75005 Paris
Churches near Paris
Saint-Denis Basilica
1 Rue de la Légion d'Honneur, 93200 Saint-Denis
Notre-Dame du Raincy
83 av. de la Résistance 93340 Le Raincy
Many excellent concerts are performed in churches. A rare occasion to mix music and sightseeing. Tickets are often cheap if not free. Check AMP concerts and France Orgue web site.
The organs of Notre-Dame Cathedral, La Trinité, Eglise de la Madeleine, Eglise Sainte-Clotilde, all of them made or adapted by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, are famous.
Paris concert halls regularly stage great religious music.
If you have some time to spend in France besides Paris, we can recommend you a few great pilgrimage places.
Mont Saint-Michel, an island topped by a medieval monastery in between Normandy and Brittany, has been one of the top pilgrimage destinations in Europe for centuries. There are one day guided tour to Mont Saint-Michel from Paris.
Lourdes is a faithful pilgrimage city. Count two days from Paris. See Lourdes details. Close to the city, Chartres is one of the most beautiful Catholic Cathedrals in Europe and a fervent pilgrimage destination. Consider also a few famous catholic pilgrimages in France: Ars, Nevers, La Salette, Rocamadour.
