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Landmark

La Madeleine Church

4.7 (13,852)Free

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.

✨ Reasons to go

  • 1Napoleon originally commissioned the building as a monument to his army rather than a church, shaping its temple-like design.
  • 2The exterior is ringed by 52 Corinthian columns, giving it the look of a classical Roman temple rather than a typical Parisian church.
  • 3The church regularly hosts concerts and cultural events in addition to daily Mass.

💡 Good to know

  • 1Free entry, so it's ideal for a quick stop between Place de la Madeleine and the Opéra area
  • 2avoid the midday Mass hour (12:30) if you want to explore quietly.

⏱️ Typical visit

30 min

🕰️ Best time

morning, lunchtime or afternoon

🚶 Walking intensity

Easy pace

📍

Address

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

  • Monday: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Thursday: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Friday: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Saturday: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Sunday: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM
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Booking

Walk-in

What people say

"Potentially the most beautiful church in Paris, if not the world. Starting off under the Bourbon monarchs, and heavily influenced by Napoleon Bonaparte. The gold and marble glitters, the statues breathe and the artwork sings. Designed to look like a Greek or Roman temple from the outside, it adds a beautiful symmetry at the front along a boulevard that ends with the mirror image of the National Assembly, and the place du Concorde. And completely free to enter…"

Michael Offord