The soaring silhouette of Église Saint-Ferdinand des Ternes stands before you. It’s a testament to a neighborhood’s faith and a reminder of a turbulent past. This impressive neo-Byzantine church, completed in 1957, was a long time in coming. Back in 1842, when the original, smaller church was built, its dedication was a subtle nod to the prince, Ferdinand-Philippe of Orleans, killed in a carriage accident near the area. It is said that a chapel dedicated to him was built on the site of the accident, and even though it was replaced in another location, the memory of the prince was forever entwined with this place.
The original church stood for almost a century but soon became too small for the growing population. In 1937, construction began on the current structure, with its grand three-dome design, but the project was interrupted by the Second World War. After the war, the building was finished, and it is now a bustling center of faith for the neighborhood.
When you step inside Église Saint-Ferdinand des Ternes, you’ll notice the beautifully preserved mosaic Stations of the Cross, created by the artist Cécile Bouvarel. These powerful images, installed in the 1990s, tell the story of Christ’s final journey. You see traces of the original interior, though it has been redecorated and modernized, reflecting changes from the Second Vatican Council. The crypt down below is dedicated to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, the only church in Paris so dedicated today. The church’s history is like a tapestry woven with threads of faith, artistic expression, and enduring memories, making it an important landmark in the 17th arrondissement.