10 Paris Churches Worth Seeing Even If You’re Not Religious
You don’t need to be religious to appreciate these churches. Their architecture, history, and atmosphere make them worth a stop, even on a short visit.
Sainte-Chapelle (1er arrondissement)
Tucked inside the Palais de Justice on Île de la Cité, Sainte-Chapelle can catch first-time visitors off guard. It looks modest from the outside, but once upstairs, the space explodes in color.
The stained glass walls cover almost every surface, depicting hundreds of biblical scenes in 13th-century glass. When sunlight filters through, the chapel glows in deep reds, blues, and golds.
Lines can be long, so early mornings or late afternoons are best. If you only see one church in Paris, this is the one.
Saint-Étienne-du-Mont (5ème)
Right behind the Panthéon in the 5th arrondissement, this oddly shaped church is easy to miss.
Inside, it has something no other Paris church has: a rare stone rood screen stretching across the nave. The mix of Gothic and Renaissance elements gives the space a strange, layered look.
It’s also the resting place of Blaise Pascal and the supposed remains of Sainte Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris.
Woody Allen fans may recognize it as the midnight steps in Midnight in Paris.
Saint-Sulpice (6ème)
Often mistaken for a cathedral, Saint-Sulpice dominates its square in the 6th arrondissement. The twin towers are famously mismatched, one taller than the other.
Inside, the scale is massive, and two Delacroix murals in the Chapel of the Holy Angels are worth a detour on their own.
The church also holds free organ concerts on Sundays, using one of the largest and most famous pipe organs in the world. Art, music, and grandeur all come together here.
Saint-Eustache (1er)
Near Les Halles, Saint-Eustache is bigger than it looks and often overlooked. A combination of Gothic structure and Renaissance decoration, it has a unique, almost theatrical style.
The vaults soar high above, and light spills in through vast windows. Mozart held his mother’s funeral there, and regular classical concerts are still held inside thanks to the church’s powerful acoustics.
It feels both grand and forgotten, which makes it easy to wander through without crowds.
Saint-Augustin (8ème)
This church stands in the 8th arrondissement, surrounded by traffic and office buildings. From afar, it looks like a misplaced Byzantine dome sitting over a train station.
Inside, though, it’s surprisingly rich with colored light, tall iron arches, and decorative chapels tucked along the side aisles.
It was one of the first churches in Paris built with an iron frame under the stone – the architect also designed parts of the nearby Opéra Garnier.
It’s an easy detour from Parc Monceau or Boulevard Haussmann.
Saint-Denys-du-Saint-Sacrement (3ème)
This small 19th-century church sits quietly in the northern Marais, not far from Rue de Turenne.
Most pass by without knowing that one of Eugène Delacroix’s lesser-known masterpieces is inside. His painting of the Pietà in the chapel to the right of the choir is raw and emotional, painted just before his work at Saint-Sulpice.
The church itself is simple, with neoclassical columns and soft lighting. It offers a moment of peace in one of Paris’s busiest neighborhoods.
La Madeleine (8ème)
Madeleine doesn’t look like a church at all. It resembles a Roman temple, with massive Corinthian columns and no cross in sight.
Napoleon originally planned it as a military monument, and the result still feels out of place.
Inside, the design is dark and theatrical, with a gold altar and large sculptures beneath a domed ceiling. High-end classical concerts are held in the church year-round.
It’s in the middle of the shopping district between Place de la Concorde and Opéra, so it makes for a good cultural stop while crossing town.
Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6ème)
This is the oldest major church in Paris, standing since the 11th century and built on foundations that go back even further.
Inside, the faded murals and columns show layers of centuries, with medieval frescoes still visible on the walls. The lighting is dim, and the atmosphere feels older than anything else in the city.
The church is surrounded by cafés and bookshops, making it a natural part of a day in Saint-Germain. Entry is free, and visits are usually quiet.
Saint-Roch (1er)
Just off Rue Saint-Honoré, this large baroque church goes almost unnoticed by the crowds heading toward the Louvre.
The façade is classical, but inside, the nave stretches deep into a long sequence of chapels and artworks.
Several major French artists are buried here, and the art inside reflects centuries of royal and revolutionary patronage. Napoleon’s troops even used it during the French Revolution, which damaged parts of the building.
Today, it remains active and full of historical layers.
Saint-Eugène-Sainte-Cécile (9ème)
Église Saint-Eugène-Sainte-Cécile (9th arrondissement) is one of the most unexpected churches in Paris. It’s tucked between Grands Boulevards and Poissonnière so it’s easy to miss.
But for travelers who’ve already seen the big-name churches, this one is a gem. From the outside, it looks like a standard 19th-century church,nothing flashy. But once you walk in, it hits differently.
The interior is colorful, lacy, and bright, with cast-iron columns that rise into pointed Gothic arches. It was one of the first churches in Paris built with an iron framework, designed by the same architect who worked on Saint-Augustin.
The result is a kind of Neo-Gothic with industrial elegance. Painted walls, intricate decoration, and unusual light patterns create a feel more theatrical than solemn.
It’s especially striking if you enjoy architecture or 19th-century Paris – think Victor Hugo era and early engineering ambition. The atmosphere is peaceful, with few tourists, and sometimes you’ll catch rehearsals for choir or organ concerts.
Saint-Vincent-de-Paul (10ème)
Standing above a long staircase near Gare du Nord, this neoclassical church looks stern from the outside but surprises with a bright, richly painted interior.
The ceilings are covered in patterns and figures that give it more color than most Paris churches. The atmosphere is calm, and few tourists make it this far unless they have a train to catch.
It’s worth stepping in, especially if you’re staying nearby in the 10th arrondissement or looking for something less polished than the more central monuments.
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cover photo: Diliff (CC BY-SA 3.0)