Notre Dame de France, French Catholic church at Leicester Place in London, United Kingdom.
Notre Dame de France is a church with a circular design that combines Gothic Revival style with innovative cast-iron construction. Inside, the chapel features artistic murals and carved relief work created by notable artists.
The building originally served as an entertainment venue called Burford's Panorama until Father Charles Faure purchased it in 1865 and transformed it into a Catholic church. After suffering bomb damage during World War II, it was restored with help from French diplomatic officials and British leaders.
The church has served as a spiritual home for French Catholics living in London since it opened. It remains a place where the French community gathers for worship in their own language and celebrates their faith together.
The church sits just north of Leicester Square and is easy to reach by public transport. Visitors should know that regular services happen in both French and English, so it is worth checking opening times before a visit.
What stands out is that the building was designed with an unusual circular floor plan, which makes it quite different from typical London churches. This shape was an innovative choice for its time and breaks away from conventional church architecture.
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