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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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L’église de la Madeleine

L’église de la Madeleine

Place de la Madeleine, 75008 Paris, France

RELIGIONS Catholic

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELIGIOUS SITE

DESCRIPTION
L'église de la Madeleine is a Roman Catholic church occupying a commanding position in the 8th arrondissement of Paris.
The Madeleine Church was designed in its present form as a temple to the glory of Napoleon's army.
To its south lies the Place de la Concorde, to the east is the Place Vendôme, and to the west Saint-Augustin, Paris.
HISTORICAL RELEVANCE
The site of this edifice, centred at the end of rue Royale, a line-of-sight between Gabriel's twin hôtels in the Place de la Concorde, required a suitably monumental end from the time that square was established in 1755, as Place Louis XV. The settlement around the site was called Ville l'Évêque. The site in the suburban faubourg had been annexed to the city of Paris in 1722.

During the Paris Commune of 1871, the curé of the church, Abbé Deguerry was one of those arrested and held hostage by the Commune. He was executed alongside Georges Darboy, the Archbishop of Paris and four other hostages on 24 May, as French government troops were retaking the city.
INTER-RELIGIOUS RELEVANCE
The Madeleine is a parish of the Archdiocese of Paris. Masses and other religious services are celebrated daily. Funerals and weddings in Paris are still celebrated here. In the basement of the Church (entrance on the Flower Market side) is The Foyer de la Madeleine.
RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
Typical of various foyers run by religious and civic groups throughout France, the Madeleine is the home of a restaurant open from Monday to Friday 11:30 am to 2:00 pm except holidays, school vacations and the month of August. For a yearly subscription fee of 5 Euros one can dine under the vaulted ceilings on a three course French meal served by volunteers for the price of 8.50 Euros. After dining one can take coffee in a lounge at the far end of the foyer for one of the cheapest espressos in Paris, 80 centimes. The walls of the Foyer are often decorated by local artists
HOW TO USE WITH THE STUDENTS
Direct visit
REFERENCE TO THE GUIDELINE

MEDIA RESOURCES

VIDEOS

  • Eglise de la Madeleine, Paris
    The 'Eglise de la Madeleine' is a heavy Napoleonic structure modeled after a classical temple, which was built for the emperor as yet another monument to the victory of his army.

    Following many vicissitudes and changes of plan, the present building is now a windowless edifice with a Greek temple facade of Corinthian columns 20 metres high. Work on the church was begun in 1764.

    However, following the death of the architect in 1777, a new scheme was considered, and a Greek cross building was begun. Well before its completion, the revolutionary government dreamed up a more rational use for the building in progress. Napoleon decided on a Temple of Glory dedicated to the Great Army, and in 1806 commissioned Barthelemy Vignon to build it. After the erection of the colonnades, Louis XVIII was restored to power in 1814, who ordered that the temple should become a church.

LINKS

  • Église de la Madeleine, la solidarité vaut bien une messe ! - Météo à la carte
    This essential monument of the capital is currently being restored to its former glory, as the bad weather has damaged its columns. But underneath these famous steps lies a place as surprising as it is unusual: a restaurant of solidarity!
    We now take you on a world tour of the oceans and climates... And for that, towards Saint-Malo, where the aquarium welcomes fish from all over the world.

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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.