Église de la Madeleine

Napoleon’s vision, a temple to his Grande Armée. That was the initial destiny of L’Église de la Madeleine. Here, before you, stands not a traditional church, but a majestic Roman temple, complete with 52 towering Corinthian columns. L’Église de la Madeleine, initially conceived as a monument to military glory, has journeyed through a fascinating evolution. King Louis XV first envisioned a church on this very spot in 1764. The original architect, Pierre Contant d’Ivry, modeled his design on Les Invalides. However, his successor, Guillaume-Martin Couture, scrapped that plan, favoring a design inspired by the Pantheon. The French Revolution halted construction, leaving only the foundations and the grand portico. Then came Napoleon, who decreed this site would become a Temple of Glory, a testament to the might of his army. Architect Pierre-Alexandre Vignon, handpicked by Napoleon himself, drew inspiration from the Maison Carrée in Nîmes, a remarkably preserved Roman temple. Construction commenced anew, incorporating the existing portico into Vignon’s grand design. After Napoleon’s fall in 1814, King Louis XVIII revived the project, intending it as an expiatory chapel for the sins of the Revolution. That idea, too, was abandoned. Finally, in 1842, L’Église de la Madeleine was consecrated as a church, dedicated to Mary Magdalene. The interior, while not as visually stunning as the exterior, houses notable works of art. Jules-Claude Ziegler’s fresco, “The History of Christianity,” adorns the half-dome above the choir. Below, a mosaic depicts Christ with saints connected to France. Carlo Marochetti’s dramatic sculpture, “The Ecstasy of Mary Magdalene,” shows her being lifted to heaven by angels. Step inside, and you’ll find a surprisingly subdued atmosphere, despite the gilded marble and the grand organ built by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll. Even below ground, L’Église de la Madeleine offers a unique experience. The Foyer de la Madeleine, a restaurant in the basement, provides a memorable dining setting under vaulted ceilings.