Sacre Ceour

Most people will tell you that Notre Dame or St. Chappelle is really the church to see in Paris, but after seeing Sacre Ceour, I have to disagree. This is number 2 on my list of things to see in Paris (only behind the Orsay museum). Not only is it situated nicely on a hill overlooking the city, it also is surrounded by a rather large park which people take advantage of. While the view from the outside is great, the inside is what really got me. I'm not usually one for churches, but this one is a doozy. Unfortunately, you aren't supposed to take pictures inside (I did, however, take one blurry one), so I'll have to describe it for you.

When you walk in the doors, you're presented with a huge open amphitheater. At the far end on the underside of the curved roof is a huge and strikingly beautiful painting of Jesus. Sorry my Christian friends, but Jesus alone doesn't do it for me, but the sheer size and magnificence of this painting does. It's really overwhelming.

When you walk around the outside edge of the amphitheater, you see that the walls are cut into little side rooms. Each has it's own alter, set of pews, and statue. Each also is overlooked by a huge stained glass window. People sit in each of these little side rooms and rest or pray. Candles are everywhere lighting these side passages. The passages go all the way around the church to the back side where there are confessionals behind the main alter. I wish I could have taken pictures here because this is some striking art and architecture. This was the first monument I went to in Paris (because it was close to my hotel. I had no idea what I was in for), and it's what really made me realize what an amazing trip I was on.

R