Churches & Other Religious Buildings
A guide to some of the most magnificent and historically significant churches and religious buildings in the Latin Quarter.
Saint-Étienne-du-Mont
The church of Etienne-du-Mont, which houses a shrine dedicated to Saint Genevieve (the patron saint of Paris) is often regarded as one of the loveliest churches in the city. While built in the 6th century under the reign of King Clovis, it underwent various refinement and enhancement projects over the years, with renovations and additions shaping it into what remains today. The last major overhaul of the church dates back to 1626, and though restorations have taken place since, the interior still reflects the church as it was in the 17th century.
The exterior may seem familiar, as it was featured in the film Midnight in Paris – the steps leading into the church where Owen Wilson’ character sat waiting to jump back in time. Inside the church, take in the vaulted ceilings, the huge balcony organ, and the rood screen, which dates back to 1545 and is the last existing one in Paris. A rood screen, which is characteristic of a medieval gothic church, is traditionally a delicate and ornate partition between the chancel and nave that features Jesus on the crucifix.
The shrine of St. Genevieve is hardly as memorable visually as it once was but the history attached to it makes it a requisite visit. During the revolution, the church that originally held the shrine was burned and the gem stones, gold, and diamonds that decorate the shrine were removed by revolutionists. The remains of St. Genevieve were burned. What was left was quickly moved to Etienne-du-Mont, and now you can examine the sarcophagus that had once housed her body, as well as various relics ignored or left behind by the revolutionists.
Practical Information: The hours of this church change based on school terms, but it is always closed on Tuesdays. During school terms (which would be off season and typical school months) the church is open on Monday from 2:30pm – 7:30pn, Wednesday from 8:30am-10pm, Thursdays and Fridays from 8:30am-7:30pm, and on weekends from 8:30am-1pm with a one hour closure before reopening from 2pm-8pm. During school holidays (typically summer months and Christmas holiadys) the church is open on Thursdays and Fridays from 9:30am-12pm and from 5pm-7:30pm, and on weekends from 10am-12pm and then reopens at 4pm until 8pm. For updates on opening hours or further clarification, check HERE.
How to Get There: The closeest métro stations are Cardinal Lemoine (M7), Jussieu (M7 or M10) and Place Monge (M7) .
Église Saint-Séverin
A stunning and surprisingly quiet gothic church on the left bank, the Church of Saint-Severin often gets overlooked for its more famous counterparts. However this church is equally old and equally interesting, and is worth checking out if you’re into gothic architecture and imposing gargoyles – especially since the Notre-Dame is closed to the public.
The church was first built in the mid-7th century, during the Merovingian era of rulers, but had to be rebuilt in the 13th century after it was destroyed by Viking invaders. Since then, it has been a popular local church, the original charm still present, down to the tower bell, which has been in situ since the early 1400s and is considered the oldest bell in Paris.
The interior, which is illuminated by candlelight, houses 17th century paintings and decorations, while the stained-glass windows date back to the 15th and 16th century, with a few rare ones dating back to the 14th century.
While poorly advertised, this church is said to be the location of the world’s first gallstone surgery, executed in the church’s burial grounds in the late 1400s.
Practical Information: Open daily, guests can visit Monday-Saturday from 11am-7:30pm and on Sunday from 9am-8:30pm, though there are services on Sunday in the morning and evening where guests are asked not to walk around and explore.
How to Get There: Close to the Seine and Place Saint-Michel, the closest stations are Saint-Michel Notre-Dame (M4, RER B and RER C), Cluny-La Sorbonne (M10) and Maubert-Mutualité (M10).
Grand Mosquée de Paris
The largest mosque/place of Islamic worship in Paris, the Grand Mosque was built in 1926, offering a new architectural style to the gothic neighbourhood. In addition to prayer rooms, the mosque offers visitors a chance to completely escape into a different culture with a picturesque outdoor garden and fountain, the tearoom and the hammam spas.
The Andalusian Garden, which is the interior courtyard garden with fountain, is stylistically like nothing else in Paris and makes for a tranquil escape from the crowds of the city. The architecture surrounding it transports you from Paris to the Moorish buildings in Andalusia or Morocco. The traditional restaurant on site provides flavourful Middle Eastern and Moroccan cuisine while the tearoom embraces the çay (tea) culture of Turkey with mint tea and baklava.
Wind down with a visit to the hammam spa which includes a wash, scrub and massage – something your body will thank you for after walking all around Paris.
Interestingly, this mosque played a significant role in helping Parisian Jews escape the city during World War II. As the Nazis invaded Paris, the Grand Mosque hid Jews, as well as created fake documents listing them as Muslim, and later helped them escape.
Practical Information: Open daily, except for Fridays, from 9am-12am in the mornings and then again from 2pm-6pm in the afternoons; in the summer months the mosque stays open until 7pm. There is an entrance fee of €3, which includes the option of a guided tour.
How to Get There: The closest métro stations are Place Monge (M7) and Censier-Daubenton (M), with Jussieu (M7 and M10) and Campo-Formia (M5) both less than a ten-minute walk from the mosque.
Other churches and religious buildings worth popping your head into include:
- Église Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre: started in 1165, finished in the 13th century. It is now a Greek Catholic Parish and has been since 1889.
- Église Saint-Medard: First built in the 7th century, but destroyed in the 10th century by Vikings. Rebuilt in the 10th century, it has seen countless renovations and restorations – the last revamp done in the 18th century. While less elaborate in the ornamentation, a few famous works can be found, including a Gobelins tapestry and art by Watteau and Champaigne.
- Église Saint-Éphrem-le-Syriaque: First built in the 14th century and rebuilt in the 18th, this quaint church is often overlooked in the shadow of the Sorbonne and Panthéon. Provides excellent classical concerts with wonderful acoustics.