Thousands of people come from all over the world to see the brilliant capital of France - Paris. Forged bars, gray buildings, squares, palaces, cozy European gardens - all this comes together into one lump and forms the magical city of Paris.
In the very center of Paris there is a church made in the Greco-Roman style, which was named after one of the novices of Christ - Mary Magdalene.
An outstanding man and commander Napoleon Bonaparte decides to start building a temple glorifying the French army. And in 1806, the construction of the church was entrusted to the French architect Pierre-Alexandre Vignon.
The shape of the church is reminiscent of a classic Greco-Roman temple: a wide staircase at the main facade and tall, massive columns. The temple's perimeter is surrounded by a colonnade of 52 Corinthian columns 20 meters high. Sandrik is decorated with a monumental frieze, executed in 1834 by Philip Honoré Lemaire, depicting the scene of the Last Judgment. Upon entering the church, attention falls on the massive bronze doors, on which frescoes depicting the ten main commandments are forged.
The interior space has only one nave, forming a wide vaulted span. The structural division of space is a combination of two styles, the presence white marble and gilding makes the temple luxurious.
The space of the church is single, it is only divided by semi-covered vaults into two parts: one of them serves as a vestibule, covered with two semicircular chapels, in one of them there is a platform for the organ, in the other for the chamber choir. The second part includes the central and naves.
The church has gone through a long journey of construction, but during the reign of Louis Philippe, within a short time it acquires aesthetic unity, precisely that feature that distinguishes it from other churches - color harmony, expressed in the alternation of warm tones, accentuated by gilding, with cold ones, expressed in chapels made of white marble.
The church receives natural light through vaulted openings and has no stained glass windows. Therefore, the internal atmosphere of the temple is quite gloomy, conducive to reflection and prayer. Daylight Baroque-style lamps also complement the design; their fancy, dynamic shapes and gilding emotionally fill the space. The rays, reflecting from the gilded altars, give off a languid, muted light.
In general, the entire structure and grandeur of the temple surpasses the forums of the ancient Roman emperors. The restraint and coldness of the colonnades corresponds to the Neoclassical style.
Above the main altar is a sculpture by the eminent Italian artist Charles Marochetti, “The Ascension of St. Magdalene,” depicting the ascension of the Blessed Mary Magdalene to heaven by two angels.
On the left, there is a chapel made of white marble by the French sculptor Francois Rudom “The Baptism of Christ”, symbolizing purification, the act of entering a new, righteous life.
The semi-dome located above the altar is painted with frescoes by Jules-Claude Ziegler. They depict the most revered saints; Napoleon is located in the center of the composition (this technique is characteristic feature art of that time).
Behind, under the small dome, there is a statue of Saint Clotilde, also made of white marble by Antoine Louis-Bary. Sublime, it is located among painted columns.
On the right, in the depths of the temple, the sculpture of Jean-Jacques Pradier “Crown Maidens” was erected. The plot is connected with the most joyful, final scene. It shows Jesus crowning Mary. This symbolizes reward for torment, expresses triumph and victory over earthly sins.
Marble panels are visible between the columns and the nave, painted by Vincent-Nicolas Ravera. In the foreground of the panel are saints and angels, decorated in lamps in the form of branches held by the angels.
The huge organ is located in the Church of the Madeleine, made using new technologies of the time by the famous master organist Aristide Cavaille-Coll. It differs from the organs of the 18th century in the use of new technologies based on acoustics, aerodynamics and mechanics. Currently, the Church of the Madeleine plays a huge role in the world of music; musicians from all continents are invited to concerts.
Church Holy Mary Magdalene is not only historical, architectural, but also cultural value. Its unique facade stands out in the general palette of Parisian buildings, is a place of prayer for Parisians and a main attraction for tourists.
Church of St. Parisians call Mary Magdalene informally – Madeleine. It looks unusual - like a Greek temple, and has an amazing history: over the 85 years of construction, the project changed several times, depending on the regime.
Once upon a time, on the site of the current church stood an old one, also St. Mary Magdalene. They were going to restore it, the first stone was solemnly laid by Louis XV in 1763. However, by the beginning of the revolution of 1789, only the foundation and portico were ready. The revolutionaries argued for a long time about how exactly the building would serve the people - a library or a market. But it was here that the body of Louis XVI was brought after the execution; here he was quickly buried and buried, thrown into quicklime in a small cemetery nearby. Later, the remains of the king and his wife were reburied in the Basilica of Saint-Denis.
And the church was demolished in 1799. In 1806 Napoleon decided to build a Temple of Glory on this site Great Army. Architect Vignon began work, it went slowly. After the fall of Napoleon, Louis XVIII demanded that the building become the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. Then they almost decided that it would be better to use it as a train station. Finally, in 1842, the new church was consecrated.
The long-suffering Madeleine turned out to be a standard of architecture French classicism. The building is surrounded by 52 Corinthian columns 20 meters high. On the pediment is a sculpture of the Last Judgment by Lemaire (with the kneeling figure of Mary Magdalene interceding with Christ for sinners). The bronze doors are decorated with reliefs on the theme of the Ten Commandments. Above the altar rises a statue depicting the Ascension of Mary Magdalene (by Marochetti), and the semi-dome above it is decorated with Ziegler’s fresco “The History of Christianity”. Sculptures, mosaics, gilding - everything flickers in the semi-darkness: the church has no windows and is illuminated through the vault. The organ was built by Cavaillé-Colle himself; many celebrities were organists at the Madeleine, including Saint-Saëns, Dubois, and Fauré.
Madeleine stands on the square of the same name, included in the ensemble of the Place de la Concorde. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit the temple every year. At the same time, the parish lives an ordinary life. Here, as it should be, people are catechized, baptized, married, buried, and Holy Masses are celebrated daily.
The Church of the Madeleine in Paris is consecrated in the name of Mary Magdalene. Of all the holy wives, Mary Magdalene or Madeleine received special veneration in France. According to apocrypha, common in the western part Christendom, Mary Magdalene, along with her brother Lazarus, sister Martha and several saints, went to bring Christianity to Gaul, that is, to present-day France. She spent the last thirty years of her life in the town of Saint Maximin la Saint Baume, where she rested in 63 AD. The relics of Mary Magdalene attract pilgrims not only to Saint-Maximin, but also to, where the basilica consecrated in her honor is located.
On August 3, 1763, dear and infinitely beloved Louis XV personally laid the first stone in the foundation of a new Parisian temple dedicated to Mary Magdalene. The original design of the architect Pierre Constant d'Ivry was to build a church in the shape of a Latin cross, topped with a dome like the Pantheon. After July 14, 1789, work continued by inertia and was interrupted by a special Decree of the National Assembly of December 30, 1791. Only in 1806, during the Prussian campaign, Napoleon signed a decree on the construction of a temple in honor of the victories of the French army where in 1763 King Louis XV laid the first stone of the Church of Mary Magdalene. Architect Pierre Alexandre Vignon won the competition, in which 23 other architects took part. It is believed that the model for the Church of the Madeleine was the ancient Roman monument Maison Carre (Square House) in Nîmes. After defeat in the War of 1812, Napoleon abandoned the idea of a temple in honor of the victory and decided to build a church in the name of Mary Magdalene.
Construction of the church dragged on for almost 40 years. After the restoration of the monarchy, Louis XVIII wanted to turn the future Church of the Madeleine into a monument to the executed Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
Under King Louis Philippe, it was decided to complete the construction of the church. Since Vignon had already died, the construction was completed by his successor, the architect Hervé. On October 9, 1845, Archbishop Affre of Paris consecrated the temple.
The church was built in the form of a classical periptera, i.e. rectangular structure surrounded by a colonnade. The peripterus rises on the base. The distance from the walls of the naos (the central part of the basilica where the worshipers are) to the colonnade corresponds to one intercolumnium - i.e. the gap between the columns. The Church of the Madeleine uses the decorative Corinthian order, while in classical ancient Greek temples the order is most often Doric.
Church of the Madeleine, fragment of the peripter.In the interior of the temple above the entrance there is an organ made by the famous master Aristide Cavaillé-Coll. The organ includes four keyboards and 58 registers. The master built it using the latest scientific achievements of the 19th century, in particular knowledge in the field of acoustics and aerodynamics. The organ of the Church of the Madeleine is considered one of the best in Europe. IN different time Famous musicians and composers served as organists here: Camille Saint-Saëns, Theodore Dubois and Gabriel Fauré.
In 1849, on October 30, the funeral service for Frederic Chopin was held in the Madeleine Church. The choir and orchestra of the Paris Conservatory performed Mozart's Requiem.
In the Church of the Madeleine there are no usual Catholic churches naves This is a spacious hall, in the depths of which the main altar is located.
Along the walls there are numerous sculptures and altars. First, let's pay attention to the right side. The statue of Saint Amelia, by a mid-19th-century sculptor, is set in a niche between two interior columns. On the altar at its foot the letters SA are visible.
Further on the wall there is a memorial plaque in honor of the rector of the church, Abbot Degeri, who was shot by the Communards in 1871. He is buried in the crypt. The Altar of Christ the Savior is decorated with a statue of the Son of God by Francis Joseph Duret.
Further on the right is a pulpit carved from oak by an unknown craftsman. It is distinguished by exceptionally rich decoration. At the top, under the canopy, there are medallions with images of Saints Jerome, Gregory the Great and Bernard. On the walls of the pulpit are depicted Saint Matthew (in the center), the apostles Paul (on the right with a sword) and Peter (on the left with keys). At the base of the pulpit there are symbols of the three evangelists: in the center is the Lion (St. Mark), on the right is the Eagle (St. John), on the left is the Bull (St. Luke).
The last altar on the right is dedicated to Saint Clotilde, wife of King Clovis, the first Christian king of the Franks. Its author is Antoine Louis Bari.
The main altar is dedicated to Mary Magdalene. The sculptural composition represents Mary Magdalene surrounded by three angels. Two more kneeling angels are located at the edges of the altar. The Italian sculptor Count Carlo Marochetti worked on its creation from 1835 to 1857.
The fresco “Christ surrounded by the apostles meets Mary Magdalene in heaven” is painted on the vault crowning the main altar. Its author, Jean-Claude Ziegler, depicted the meeting of Mary Magdalene with the Son of God at the top, and below wrote the main characters who played a key role in the life of the Church in the West and, especially, in France. Below in the center are visible Pope Pius VII and Emperor Napoleon I at the moment of signing the concordat between the Roman Catholic Church and the French Empire. Cardinals Consalvi, Caprara and Braschi are also depicted here. They are surrounded by historical characters: Charlemagne, Saint Louis, Henry IV, Louis XIII, Cardinal Richelieu, Joan of Arc, Godfrey of Bouillon and other rulers, saints and crusaders.
Below is a semicircular mosaic frieze by Charles Joseph Lamer. It is dedicated to saints who played a special role in the spread of Christianity in Gaul. In the center is the image of Christ, on the left is the kneeling Mary Magdalene; then Maximen, first bishop of Aix-en-Provence; his successor Siduan; then Martial, baptist of Aquitaine; Veronica carrying the Holy Face in her hands; the converted Zacchaeus, who lived in Rocamadour; Front, founder of the church at Périgueux; Georges, first Bishop of Puy; Flour, baptist of the Cévennes and Hauteremoines, founder of the church at Clermont. On the right are Martha, sister of Mary Magdalene, buried in Tarascon; Lazarus, her resurrected brother, founder of the Church of Marseilles; Mary of James, mother of Saint James, who accompanied Mary Magdalene to Gaul; Mary Salome, mother of the Apostle James the Great, who also landed in Provence; Marcella, servant of Saint Martha; Trophimus (in French Trope), disciple of the Apostle Paul and founder of the Church of Arles; Etrof, founder of the church in Orange, Ursin, first bishop of Bourges. The last figure on the right side of the frieze is Saint Denis (Dionysius), the first bishop of Paris to suffer martyrdom.
Along the left wall there is a statue of St. Augustine by Antoine Etex - the first from the main altar.
The next side altar is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Charles Marie Seret sculpted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus in her arms.
At floor level there is a sculpture of Saint Joan of Arc, made by Raoul Lachey. This is the latest detail of the decoration of the Church of the Madeleine, dating back to 1909, when Pope Pius X declared the national heroine of France “blessed”. 11 years later she was canonized.
Closer to the entrance are a statue of St. Vincent of the Field and a plaster copy of the sculpture of the Virgin Mary of Lourdes, the site of the Virgin's appearance to the miller's daughter Bernadette Soubirous.
The interior decoration of the Church of the Madeleine is completed by the white marble composition “The Baptism of Christ” with a font, created by the sculptor Francois Rude.
The bronze gate leading to the temple weighs 3.2 tons and is taller than the gates of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. On the outside they are decorated with bas-reliefs of the Ten Commandments created by Baron Henri de Trichetti.
Gate of the Church of the Madeleine, view from the inside.The tympanum of the church is decorated with a multi-figure composition Last Judgment by Henri Lemaire. Jesus Christ is depicted in the center, right hand from him is Mary Magdalene and the righteous, to the left are sinners. The Church of Mary Magdalene in Paris deservedly ranks among the most interesting and beautiful sights of the city. It struck us first of all with its unusual architecture, unlike traditional Catholic basilicas and its solemn interior decoration. Statues and altars, together with triumphal colonnades, molded gilded cornices, coffers and domes create a majestic image of the temple from the times of the empire.
We have collected articles about other European churches in the section.
A detailed report on the trip to Paris was published in the article.
Parisian walks are described in the article.
The Church of the Madeleine, or, as it is also called, the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, is located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris on the Place de la Madeleine next to the Place de la Concorde. This is a famous place in France, which is very popular among tourists. It is the most visited after Notre Dame Cathedral and the Sacre Coeur Basilica. About 600 thousand travelers from all over the world come here every year.
Non-religious events are also often held in the church. In the main hall, due to excellent acoustics, the presence musical instruments and large capacity, sometimes choral groups perform and solo concerts are held, organ and classical music is played. You can also visit an exhibition of paintings here. Visitors can experience a unique atmosphere here. Marriages are often registered in the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Paris. This temple ranks second after the cathedral Notre Dame of Paris among couples wishing to legitimize their relationship.
Most travelers prefer to stay in the center of Paris. Near the Madeleine Temple there are many different hotels price categories. From here you can reach the most popular attractions even on foot. It is better to book hotels in Paris in advance due to the large flow of tourists.
When going to the Madeleine Temple in Paris, you should note that very close by there are objects no less interesting for the traveler that can be visited in one day.
Place Madeleine, on which the temple itself is located, is a popular place in Paris. There are many shops and shops on it. For example, in La Dura you can try delicious desserts. Such shops are called gastronomic boutiques (Fouchone). The square turns into streets with boutiques where you can buy perfumes, sporting goods, elite alcoholic drinks, leather and fur products.
Place Vendôme located north of the Tuileries Gardens. It was created as a monument to the army more than three centuries ago. In the center of the square is the Vendôme Column, installed by Napoleon. It is decorated with 425 bronze bas-reliefs made from war trophies.
The most common form of transport in Paris is metro. If during rush hour highways If there are traffic jams, you can take the metro to any corner of the city. Near the attraction there is the Madeleine metro station, lines 8, 12, 14.
You can get to the church by on the bus. The nearest bus stop at Place de la Madeleine is “Madeleine”. Buses No. 24, 84, 94 stop here.
Taxi expensive in Paris. Local residents prefer to take a taxi only when the distance to the destination is short. A trip around the city will cost at least 7 euros, for each kilometer the passenger pays from 1 to 1.6 euros. There are taxi services in the city: Taxi G7, Alpha Taxis, Taxis Bleus, 01 Taxi. If you need a Russian-speaking driver, contact Acsel ltd or KIV.
Video “Church of the Madeleine: interior and history”
Contacts
Address: Place de la Madeleine, 75008 Paris, France
Telephone: +33 1 44 51 69 00
Official site: www.eglise-lamadeleine.com
How to get there
Metro: Madeleine station (lines 8, 12, 14)
Rarely does a traveler not want to visit this city. Luxurious architecture, majestic palaces... cozy with sketches of famous artists on the walls - all this is Paris.
One of the most significant phenomena of this city is its temples. Ancients, with centuries-old history, survivors of glory, warriors and destruction and still just as beautiful. They keep many secrets and carry this burden with majestic dignity through the centuries.
One of these guardians of history is the Church of the Madeleine. The full name of this temple building is the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. It is interesting that the Church of Mary Magdalene also has another name - the Madeleine Cathedral, but in Paris they know very well that both the cathedral and the church with this beautiful female name- the same building. It was built in the neoclassical style and is an impressive sight in the Greco-Roman style with a spacious portico and 52 Corinthian columns.
This building has a very complicated history. Famous Church of the Madeleine (Eglise de la Madeleine) in Paris - one of the three most visited temple buildings in the capital of France. In first place is the world famous one. The second one belongs to the beautiful one. Every year, more than 600 thousand travelers and city residents climb the ancient steps of the Madeleine Temple into its cozy vaults. And in last years Parisians have a beautiful tradition: they decorate the steps of the Madeleine Cathedral with whole armfuls of white and red flowers.
Initially there was a small church on this site. As Paris grew and its population increased, the church could no longer accommodate everyone who wanted to kneel before its altar. At the end of the 17th century it was rebuilt. Construction of the Cathedral of the Madeleine, or St. Mary Magdalene, as we know it now, began in the era of Louis XV at the end of the 18th century.
The beginning of construction was led by the talented architect Contant d'Ivry, and the king himself laid the first stone in the foundation of the future temple in 1763. At that time it was very fashionable to erect entire squares with magnificent architectural ensembles, A Place de la Madeleine in Paris was exactly what was supposed to be such a triumph for Louis XV.
Unfortunately, such a brilliant start did not mean that the Madeleine Church would be quickly built and services would soon begin in it for the glory of the Lord and the sovereign. Construction lasted for as long as 85 years and was either suspended or continued again, based on the political situation in the country. The reason for the first stop in construction was French revolution 1791. The revolutionaries who came to power for a long time could not determine what to do with the unfinished temple. There have been proposals to use it as a public library, a new apartment building or even 
operas. Finally, the building of the future church was leased to artisans.
The further fate of the church of La Madeleine (or Saint Madeleine), as the French call it, is closely connected with the name of Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1806, the French emperor decided to complete the construction of a beautiful temple, which he intended to dedicate to the glorious imperial army.
The construction was headed this time by the architect Vignon, and only in 1842 was it finally completed. Madeleine was blessed. Interestingly, even before construction was completed, plans for the building changed again: in 1814, Louis XVIII wanted the Church of St. Mary Magdalene to be dedicated to the crowned Louis XVI and his infamous wife Marie Antoinette.
The Church of the Madeleine is a current Catholic church. Masses are celebrated here every day, and among the most popular places for weddings, the Church of the Madeleine is in second place after Notre Dame de Paris. An important role in this was played by the ancient architecture and splendor of the decoration of the temple, with its luxurious portico, columns and stunning beauty inside the building itself. Particularly striking is the sculptural composition “The Last Judgment” by Lemaire, located on the pediment of the main façade of the cathedral.
By the way, the Church of Madeleine has its own official website. The activities of the temple servants are so diverse and comprehensive that you are simply amazed. For example, they help unemployed people find employment. Charitable activities also extend to the children's scout club. Free lessons are also offered in English. For travelers who do not have large funds, it will be interesting to know that the church has an inexpensive canteen, where lunch costs only 7.5 € (for Paris this is simply a ridiculous price).
But the Place de la Concorde and its small part, the Place de la Madeleine, are known to Parisians and guests not only for the Parisian Church of the Madeleine, its unique history and no less unique architecture. This part of Paris is very popular with gourmets from all over the world for its numerous restaurants and pastry shops. For those with a sweet tooth, we recommend checking out one of the oldest Parisian confectioneries, which is officially called Ladure, but is known among Parisians as the “Chanel of the world of sweets.” And if you want to try something exotic, you can visit the Minamoto Kitchoan confectionery and enjoy the exquisite delicacies of Japanese cuisine.
Those who want to bring an excellent, but most importantly, useful souvenir from Paris should visit one of the grocery stores or one of the ready-made clothing stores on the Place de la Madeleine. The products here are so varied and of such excellent quality that you can leave with empty handed It's simply impossible. The best French chocolate, noble wine or a wheel of fragrant elite cheese will be a pleasant addition to the wonderful impressions that a traveler will have from a trip to Paris.
Place de la Madeleine is also famous for its flower market. This picturesque place is famous for the fact that once upon a time it was in this part of the city that the beautiful courtesan Alphonsine Plessis lived, from whom Dumas the son literally copied the image of “The Lady of the Camellias.” Another highlight of the square is house number 14. A small cafe located in this historical building hosted the world’s first film show of the Lumiere Brothers. Since then, this building has been considered a kind of cradle of cinema.
And one more unusual attraction of the Place de la Madeleine - public toilet XIX century. It is located on the way from the metro station to the square. All internal system This establishment is absolutely modern, but the interior is completely recreated in the luxury style of the 19th century. ( natural wood, amazing stained glass windows, etc.). In short, the impressions from this part of Paris are designed for a wide variety of tastes, and they will definitely last for a long time.
The Church of the Madeleine is located in Paris by the address: VIII municipal district, . More precisely, it is located on the square of the same name, but the Place de la Madeleine itself is part of the huge architectural complex of the Place de la Concorde.
You can get to the square using the Parisian. Metro lines No. 8, 12, 14 run to Madeleine station. Ticket price - 1.7 € (travel within the 1st zone).
Church and Place de la Madeleine on the map of Paris:
