Our selection of 25 Paris churches
In the first half of 2025, Paris welcomed 24.3 million visitors eager to discover its renowned tourist attractions, including its many churches!
And what about the sheer number of Paris churches to explore?
While iconic monuments such as Notre-Dame Cathedral, Sacré-Coeur Basilica, and Sainte-Chapelle draw crowds year-round, many lesser-known Paris churches are equally worth of attention!
Therefore, for those wishing to delve deeper into Parisian religious heritage, we present a selection of 25 Paris churches that showcase a wealth of ornamentation, architecture, and sometimes even unusual features.
- Chapelle Expiatoire is historically important, as it was built on the site where the remains of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were originally buried.
- La Madeleine was built on the plan of a Greek temple to honour Napoleon’s Grande Armée, which explains why it lacks traditional religious symbols such as a cross or a bell tower.
- La Trinité is a superb example of the opulent Baroque style so characteristic of Second Empire architecture.
- Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption Since 1844, this church has served as a place of worship for Polish expatriates who sought refuge after the Russian invasion of their country.
- Notre-Dame-du-Travail is an emblematic example of metal architecture, a style that reached its peak at the turn of the 20th century.
- Saint-Denis Basilica is undoubtedly the most emblematic of our 25 Parisian churches, as it served as the necropolis for the kings of France from 987 to 1789. Within its walls lie the remains of 42 kings, 32 queens, 63 princes and princesses, and 10 high-ranking barons.
- Saint-Etienne-du-Mont is a unique testament to the architectural evolution from Gothic and Flamboyant Gothic to the French Renaissance. Located on the site of an abbey founded by Clovis, the first king of France, this church houses the reliquary of Sainte-Geneviève, one of the patron saints of Paris.
- Saint-Eustache, one of the most beautiful Gothic churches in Paris, is a true eye-catcher. Located in Les Halles, the historic heart of the city and a former covered market, it is a genuine architectural gem.
- Saint-Francois-Xavier houses the relics of Saint Madeleine-Sophie Barat, a feminism and a fervent advocate for girls’ education.
- Saint-Germains-des-Prés, one of the oldest churches in Paris, boasts Romanesque architecture dating to the late 6th century. It is the sole remain of the prestigious abbey founded by the kings of France
- Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois is situated on the eastern side of the Louvre Palace and was thus the former parish church of the kings of France.
- Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais is the first Parisian church to feature a facade adorned with the three classical orders.
- Saint-Jean-de-Montmarte is a superb example of Art Nouveau architecture and is the only Parisian church built of reinforced concrete on a metal frame.
- Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre is a remarkable example of the transition between Romanesque and Gothic architecture and has been dedicated to the Greek Catholic faith since the late 19th century.
- Saint-Louis-en-l’Isle, famous for its sumptuous Baroque ornamentation, is the parish church of the affluent community of the Île Saint-Louis, which once included Marie Curie and President Georges Pompidou.
- Saint-Marcel surprises with its contemporary architecture. It is dedicated to the patron saint of Paris and the ninth bishop and stands near the neighbourhood where the first Parisian Christian community settled more than two millennia ago.
- Saint-Médard is nestled at the bottom of Rue Mouffetard, an iconic shopping street on the Left Bank, and is dedicated to the patron saint of farmers, winemakers and brewers.
- Saint-Merry was once the parish church of moneylenders and bankers, but also sex workers as it stands in the heart of Paris’s former red light district. However, it boasts opulent decorations and architecture, reflecting the wealth of its parishioners
- Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis, built against a section of the 12th-century ramparts, houses a rich collection of religious furnishings and works of art from the post-Revolutionary period, notably Delacroix’s “Christ in Agony in the Garden of Olives.”
- Saint-Philippe-du-Roule on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, was built and decorated by some of the most renowned artists of the 18th and 19th centuries.
- Saint-Pierre-de-Montmartre, the oldest of our 25 Parisian churches, is the only remaining vestige of the famous Montmartre Abbey. It is adorned with magnificent stained-glass windows created by Max Ingrand in 1953.
- Saint-Roch erected by the Millers and Bakers’ Guild on Rue Saint-Honoré, is one of the largest churches in the city and is renowned for its lavish Baroque features.
- Saint-Serge-de-Radonege Russian Orthodox church is renowned for its remarkable iconostasis, which showcases more than a hundred painting
- Saint-Séverin is nestled in the heart of the Latin Quarter, and is a major centre for sacred music. Its superb Flamboyant Gothic architecture and exceptional features, such as its contemporary stained-glass windows and unique twisted pillar, make it one of the most beautiful churches in Paris.
- Saint-Sulpice, the second largest church in Paris, is a feast of French architectural and artistic mastery.
These 25 Paris churches are 25 great places to visit on a rainy day!
