Église Saint-Dominique, Byzantine Revival church in 14th arrondissement, France
Saint-Dominique Church is a Byzantine Revival church in Paris's 14th arrondissement featuring a large central dome that anchors the interior space. The structure includes side galleries beneath tall windows and a restored underground crypt accessible from the main floor.
Construction began in 1913 under architect Georges Gaudibert and was completed in 1921, with interruptions caused by World War I. The building's completion took longer than anticipated due to wartime disruptions and subsequent finishing work.
The interior walls feature large murals depicting scenes from the life of Saint Catherine of Siena, created during the late 1920s and early 1930s. These paintings give the church its distinctive visual character and tell stories of this saint's devotion.
The church is located on a quiet side street in a residential neighborhood and is easy to reach by public transport or on foot. The underground crypt is worth visiting for its unique natural lighting system created through small courtyard windows.
An unexpected detail appears in the sculpture of Saint Dominic on the church's east side, which bears the face of French actor Louis Jouvet. This blend of religious art and contemporary portraiture was created by sculptor André Bourroux in 1946.
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