Paris, affectionately referred to as the City of Light, is the spiritual home of the French people. Few who visit fail to fall completely in love with this spectacular city, which is widely considered to be the world's most romantic. Paris has abundant art, history, and architecture, with all of these things coming together in its countless churches.
The majesty and splendor of these beautiful buildings, which feature extraordinary architecture and are laden with history, make them fascinating in the eyes of many. Richard Silver is a photographer who came to Paris and documented the interior of churches in the French capital in a very special way - by taking panoramic photos vertically instead of horizontally, as one normally would. Here are 10 of his eye-catching photographs, as well as some information about each one of the beautiful churches he captured:
Who isn’t familiar with this world-famous cathedral, which was built between 1163 and 1345? This magnificent building, located in the heart of the most historic area of Paris, attracts tourists from all corners of the globe, and if you happen to be in the City of Light you will probably have already visited here. However, the wonderful picture before you, which captures the interior of Notre Dame in all its splendor, gives a new perspective on this well-known place.
In the Artists' Quarter north of Paris is the church of Saint-Pierre de Montmartre, one of the oldest-surviving churches in the city. This church was built in 1096, and since then has had many incarnations – it was even destroyed during the French Revolution, but was rebuilt in the 19th century. Although Saint-Pierre receives less publicity than its "older sister", the Sacred Heart Basilica also located in Montmartre, it is still a focal point for many tourists, who are impressed, among other things, by its original Roman columns.
The Invalides Palace in the 7th arrondissement of Paris is another of the city's most famous sites and tourist attractions. In this museum and residential complex dating back to the 18th century, some of the greatest French heroes, such as Napoleon Bonaparte, are buried. The cathedral of the Invalides - Saint-Louis Cathedral you see in the picture decorated with French flags - was built in 1905, with the establishment of the local army museum, and now belongs to the bishopric of the French armed forces, appointed to it by the Vatican.
In the Latin Quarter, one of the more historic and bohemian quarters of Paris, there is the Church of Saint-Sulpice, second only to Notre Dame, which also receives publicity and recognition. Construction on the church began in 1646, and it boasts an impressive 18th-century sundial and a gigantic organ with no less 6,588 pipes, which can be seen in the picture. The interior of the church was redesigned after the French Revolution and became a "temple of victory" with frescoes depicting heroism.
Notre Dame De Lorette started being built in 1823 under the reign of Louis XVIII and was finished about 16 years later, when the monarchy was already in the hands of Louis Philippe I. The church, located in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, is the place where some of the more significant French artists such as the painter Claude Monet and the composer Georges Bizet, who wrote the opera Carmen, were baptized.
The construction of the Church of Saint-Gervais et Saint Protais, located in the heart of the Marais region - one of the most beloved and classic in the various parts of the city - lasted a little more than 150 years. The facade of this church, which was one of the last completed sections, was the first example in Paris of the French baroque style, which was characterized by many decorative elements, a lot of gold and artistic richness.
The church of Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis is also located in the popular Marais area, but it was built a little later than Saint-Gervais mentioned earlier. The name of the church commemorates two people: the first is considered the first documented Christian monk - Paul Methbee who lived in the 3rd century AD, and the second is French King Louis XIII, who ordered the construction of the church.
The Church of Saint-Laurent, located in the 10th arrondissement of Paris and was constructed on the north-south axis of the city, which was built by the Romans. The church itself dates back to the 6th century AD. Until 2016, the church was considered a historic monument by the French Ministry of Culture.
In the cosmopolitan Ménilmontant district of Paris' 20th arrondissement, this church, established in the 19th century in light of demand from the region's growing population, is located. In 1871, during the short reign of the Paris Commune - the socialist government that ruled Paris for two months until it was suppressed by revolt - it became a political discussion club, but after the removal of the Commune, it returned to being used for its original purpose.
Saint-Pierre-de-Chaillot is a Roman Catholic church located in the 16th arrondissement of Paris and dates back to the 11th century when it was founded by the established community. The place became famous thanks to the funerals of the famous French writers Guy de Maupassant and Marcel Proust taking place there.
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