Five great Paris churches to visit (instead of Notre Dame)

The Earful Tower’s intern Thomas Farnham shares his thoughts on some other churches to find in Paris.

A trip to the cathedral of Notre Dame is a mixed bag– light feeds in through thick stained glass, illuminating the faces of sculptures and colouring the stone walls as if it shines just for that purpose. At the same time, people flood into the church in droves. If you’re not a fan of crowds, it can feel like navigating the most beautiful airport security line you’ve ever waited in.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of Notre Dame, so after checking it off my Paris bucket list, I worked my way around Paris, visiting as many churches as I could find in order to write this article and present five alternative churches that I enjoyed more. Here they are:

Notre Dame’s Forgotten Little Brother

Saint Sulpice is almost as large and old as Notre Dame, with nearly no tourists. The interior is gray and faded, and with pale stained glass the colour of moss and wheat, the only place that pops is the Lady Chapel (a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary) with a sudden gold and a fresco so intense that it seems to glow. With paint chipping from the ceilings and a quiet that only breaks when a sneaker squeaks, this church gives you the authenticity that Notre Dame lacks.

Address: 2 Rue Palatine, 75006 Paris

Eglise de la Trinite

This church is empty more often than not and the silence feels like it lives and breathes. This church isn’t famous for its stained glass or artwork, but it’s worth choosing one of the hundreds of empty seats, staring up at the magnificent ceilings, and listening to the air around you whisper. 

Address: Pl. d’Estienne d’Orves, 75009 Paris

Saint-Eustache

If you’re a fan of gothic architecture, then Saint-Eustache is what you’re looking for. Columns rise frequently, each one belittling the presence of any human that stands next to it, all leading to a ceiling so ominous and intricate that it feels like it’s staring back at you.

Address: 2 Imp. Saint-Eustache, 75001 Paris

Saint-Germain-des-Pres

If you’ve had your fill of dark and ancient churches, then the saturated colors of Saint-Germain-des-Pres are a perfect contrast. The first half of this church is a brilliant teal, making it look like it belongs on a beach somewhere, while the second half is dark, with blood red columns and stained glass that prevents most of the sun from entering. Though the church is so vibrant that it seems that the paint is still drying, it was originally founded as a church of a Benedictine abbey in 558 and is one of the oldest churches in Paris.

Address: 3 Pl. Saint-Germain des Prés, 75006 Paris

Climbing District

The final church is not a religious space, but one for activity. Climbing District Saint-Lazare is a chapel that has been converted to a rock-climbing gym and coworking space. It’s not the most magnificent church in Paris by any means, but it’s a beautiful space to either get some work done or take a break and get a workout. (P.S. Climbing District Sèvres-Lecourbe is another rock-climbing gym in the 15th arrondissement which is in the old Sainte Rita church.)

Address: 26bis Rue de Saint-Pétersbourg, 75008 Paris

Notre Dame was a bucket list item and I would be amiss to tell you it’s not worth a visit, but that being said, there are a plethora of churches in Paris that are just as worthy of a visit. Sometimes you’ll stumble upon a gem simply walking into an unknown church– so check out these churches and any that you happen to come across on your stay in Paris. 

By Thomas Farnham

For plenty more things to find in Paris, check out The Earful Tower’s PDF guide to Paris via the links below.