They say that even in the heart of a bustling city, you can find pockets of peace. Here, tucked away between Rue de Dantzig and Rue de Cronstadt, stands the Église Notre-Dame-de-La-Salette. It’s a testament to that very idea. You won’t stumble upon this church by accident. It’s almost hidden from the main streets, requiring a deliberate turn to be discovered.
The Église Notre-Dame-de-La-Salette might surprise you. Built in 1965, it’s a stark departure from the grand, ornate churches that Paris is famous for. This structure is decidedly modern, its rough-concrete exterior resembling a giant Gugelhupf, a brioche-like cake. But don’t let that fool you. The design is deliberate, a reflection of the changes brought about by the Second Vatican Council.
Step through the walnut doors, carved with images of Christ and the Virgin of La Salette, and enter a circular sanctuary. The space feels expansive, light flooding in through sixteen stained-glass windows. These windows, set at an angle, cast colorful patterns that dance across the walls throughout the day. Look closely, and you’ll see a representation of choir songs ascending to heaven in their color gradations.
The Église Notre-Dame-de-La-Salette wasn’t always this way. It stands on the site of an old orphanage run by the Brethren of Saint Vincent de Paul. A small chapel dedicated to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary once stood here. The chapel was expanded in the late 19th century but ultimately demolished to make way for the modern structure you see today. Interestingly, the benches you see around you are a tangible link to that past, salvaged from the old chapel. The Église Notre-Dame-de-La-Salette is more than just a church. It’s a quiet refuge in a bustling city, a place where architecture and history intertwine to offer a unique perspective on faith and modernity.