Sacred Paris: A Guide to the Churches, Synagogues, and the Grand Mosque in the City of Light

by Susan Cahill, Marion Ranoux (Contribution by)

Overview

From the author of Hidden Gardens of Paris and The Streets of Paris comes a beautifully illustrated guide to the history of Paris through its renowned and beloved places of worship.

When visiting the City of Light, the spirit of Paris can be felt everywhere. It holds a sacred history that goes beyond words, beyond religion, and its legendary places of worship are truly its crown jewels.

Susan Cahill's Sacred Paris is a guide for seasoned Parisian visitors, novices, and armchair travelers to the historic religious sites of the city, from the well-known landmarks to the sacred spots off the beaten track, from the magnificent towers of Notre-Dame and the sweeping arches of the Grand Mosque to the serenity of Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre. This spiritual tour is interwoven with the artistic and cultural history of Paris, from the medieval Crusades through the Resistance of World War II. Stand in the basilica of Saint-Denis, where Joan of Arc prayed with her soldiers in the Hundred Years' War, and gaze at the murals of Saint-Sulpice painted by Eugene Delacroix, or visit the village of Auvers where Vincent van Gogh painted the lovely Gothic church of Notre Dame d’Auvers-sur-Oise.

Organized by the major geographical sections of the city—Ile de la Cite; the Latin Quarter on the Left Bank; Montparnasse; Northern Paris on the Right Bank; the Marais—each chapter is accompanied by Marion Ranoux’s beautiful four-color photographs. Also included are lists of “Nearbys”: gardens, bistros, librairies, museums, and other points of interest to round out your visit.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250239686
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	04/19/2022
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	628,296
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 5.40(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

SUSAN CAHILL has published several travel books on France, Italy, and Ireland, including Hidden Gardens of Paris. She is the editor of the bestselling Women and Fiction series and author of the novel Earth Angels. She spends a few months in Paris every year.

MARION RANOUX, a native Parisienne, is an experienced freelance photographer and translator into French of Czech literature.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Île de la Cité

Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Paris 11

Sainte-Chapelle 23

The Left Bank

The Latin Quarter

Saint-Séverin 33

Saint-Étienne-du-Mont 41

Val-de-Grâce 49

Saint-Médard 59

Grand Mosque of Paris 67

Saint-Germain

Saint-Germain-des-Prés 77

Saint-Sulpice 85

Saint-Joseph-des-Carmes 93

Montparnasse

Notre-Dame du Travail 103

The Eiffel Tower and Environs

Saint-Jean Lutheran 111

Western Paris

Russian Cathedral of Saint Alexander Nevsky 119

The Right Bank

Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois 127

Notre-Dame des Victoires 135

Saint-Eustache 141

Saint-Merri 149

Northern Paris and Montmartre

La Madeleine 155

Sainte-Trinité 163

The Grande Synagogue de la Victoire 169

Vincent van Gogh's Montmartre and Notre-Dame d'Auvers-sur-Oise 177

The Basilica of Saint-Denis 187

The Marais

Saint-Gervais & Saint-Protais 197

Synagogue de Nazareth 205

Northeastern Paris and Around Bastille

Saint-Germain de Charonne 213

(Nearby: Saint-Ambroise) 218

Acknowledgments 221

Sources 225

Index 231

Editorial Reviews

01/31/2022

Cahill (Hidden Gardens of Paris) encourages readers to explore the sacred side of Paris in this handy travel guide with a focus on “traditional settings for prayer and worship.” From the well-trodden naves of Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle to lesser-known locations such as the Marais district’s Synagogue de Nazareth or Saint-Jean Lutheran on rue de Grenelle, travelers will appreciate Cahill’s colorful histories of people and places, recommendations for libraries and cafés, and carefully plotted directions. Cahill’s anecdotes reveal the multifaceted history of religious practice in Paris, including the “convulsionnaires” of the 18th century, who threw fits of contortion in the cemetery at Saint Médard, and the 1792 September Massacres, when revolutionaries beheaded dozens of monks. Cahill focuses heavily on Catholic churches, and while she includes Lutheran, Muslim, and Jewish sites, her engagement with those is comparatively superficial, as when she reduces Lutheranism to an aesthetic of “simplicity” and “symbolism.” Despite shallow takes on faith traditions outside of Catholicism, this succeeds in cutting its own path as a unique travel guide. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

This useful guidebook seamlessly weaves together art, literature, music, and history, and it makes a great armchair read for those who can’t tread Paris’ boulevards.” –Booklist

Praise for The Streets of Paris:

"This elegantly written book is absolutely essential reading for all travelers bound for Paris." —Alexander Lobrano, author of Hungry for Paris and Hungry for France

"Armchair travelers will delight in the histories and may find further inspiration in the bibliography." —Library Journal

“Witty, colorful and always enlightening, The Streets of Paris is essential, whether you're visiting for the first or fiftieth time.” —Donald Spoto, bestselling author of The Redgraves: A Family Epic

Praise for Hidden Gardens of Paris:

“Paris may be universally known as the City of Light, but based on this exquisite book it could just as easily be called the City of Parks.” —Chicago Tribune

“No matter how many times you have been to Paris, never go again without Susan Cahill.” —Bill Moyers

"Whether you go often to Paris or are making your first visit, this is the guide you need. Susan Cahill will accompany you through the parks of this beloved city—from famous public spaces to secret gardens: a walk through the history and lore of Paris and Parisians, all in the open air." —Shirley Abbott, author of The Bookmaker's Daughter, Love's Apprentice, and The Future of Love

“This lively and informative guide gives one the confidence and an overwhelming desire to venture into the Jardin Catherine Labouré and the Jardin du Musée Rodin on the next visit to Paris.” — Elizabeth Cullinan, author of House of Gold

“This handy, informative little book helped me visit old neighborhood park and garden friends and meet new ones. And what’s not to like about the gardens of Paris and the stories behind them?” —Mireille Guiliano, author of French Women Don’t Get Fat

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