While strolling on the Left Bank, we recently discovered the
Basilique Sainte Clotilde.
It turns out that we had seen the church many times before. From the window of our apartment, we can see the twin 225' spires along the skyline across the Seine. We were happy to see the church up close.
The church was completed in 1857 in the neo-Gothic style. The church is dedicated to two saints. The first is Ste. Clotilde, the second wife of early Frankish king Clovis, a pagan. Clotilde urged Clovis to convert to Christianity, which he did. As a result, Clotilde holds a special place in the history of France.
The church is also dedicated to Ste. Valérie de Limoges. In the third century in Limoges, Valérie refuses to marry a pagan Roman official. The official orders her beheaded. After the beheading, the executioner is struck dead by lightning and Valérie picks up her head and walks to church to attend mass and then dies. By the way, after seeing all this, that Roman official converted to Christianity.
We enjoyed touring the church. Here is a a photographic tour of the interior.
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| Basilique Sainte Clotilde: The nave of the church |
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| Basilique Sainte Clotilde: The main altar |
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| Basilique Sainte Clotilde: A silver bowl and dove under the modern (2007) altar.According to Paris.Catholic.fr, the bowl and dove by the artist Goujdi evoke "the baptism of Clovis (asked under the luminous influence of his wife Sainte Clotilde). The bowl and the dove, baptism and confirmation, bear the third sacrament of initiation: the Eucharist." |
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| Basilique Sainte Clotilde: The famous organ of the church |
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| Basilique Sainte Clotilde: The rose window of the east transept |
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| Basilique Sainte Clotilde: The rose window of the west transept |
The sculpture in the church was very good. The stations of the cross were depicted in bas-relief sculpture, like the one below.
A modern sculpture of Pope John Paul II also caught our attention.
Thanks for visiting the
Basilique Sainte Clotilde with us.
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