🏛️LandmarkClosed · Opens 9:30 AMFree

La Madeleine Church

Name: La Madeleine Church
Rating: 4.7

4.7 ·

Step inside La Madeleine, a church built to look like a Greek temple near Place de la Madeleine. Admire the towering Corinthian columns and ornate domed interior, and catch a concert or cultural event if timing allows.

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Reasons to go

Napoleon originally commissioned the building as a monument to his army rather than a church, shaping its temple-like design.
The exterior is ringed by 52 Corinthian columns, giving it the look of a classical Roman temple rather than a typical Parisian church.
The church regularly hosts concerts and cultural events in addition to daily Mass.

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Full description

Built in the style of a classical Greek temple, this landmark church dedicated to Sainte Marie-Madeleine features a colonnaded facade and a domed, ornate interior. It functions as an active Catholic parish, holding daily and Sunday Mass, alongside concerts and cultural events.

Visitors can explore the sanctuary daily, with wheelchair access via an elevator on Boulevard Malesherbes.

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Address

Pl. de la Madeleine, 75008 Paris, France · Madeleine

Website

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Hours

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Booking

Walk-in

Duration

30 min

Best time

morning, lunchtime or afternoon

Intensity

Easy pace

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Good to know

Free entry, so it's ideal for a quick stop between Place de la Madeleine and the Opéra area
avoid the midday Mass hour (12:30) if you want to explore quietly.

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Reviews

What a unique church! First at church, then a monument to Napoleon, then a church again. The Corinthian columns and interior like nothing I’ve ever seen in a Catholic Church before. Trust me, I’ve been to a lot of Catholic churches. I was so happy we finally made it to this Parisian landmark.

Sweat Less Travel

4/5

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