Saint-Louis de la Salpêtrière, 17th-century chapel in Quartier de la Salpêtrière, France
Saint-Louis de la Salpêtrière is a chapel with four equal-length naves arranged in a Greek cross shape, topped by a prominent dome. The interior creates a spacious, symmetrical hall where light streams through windows to illuminate the space.
King Louis XIV commissioned architect Louis Le Vau in 1669 to design this chapel as part of a general hospital that housed thousands of Paris residents. The building became the central prayer space for the large population living and working within the hospital complex.
The chapel contains four distinct prayer areas, each dedicated to different saints and aspects of faith, serving as separate spiritual spaces for different groups who gathered here.
The chapel is usually open to visitors on most days, though times may vary depending on scheduled services. It is worth checking ahead to confirm access times, as the building remains an active religious space.
The chapel was designed large enough that different groups within the hospital could use each of its four arms separately and simultaneously. This arrangement allowed the building to serve multiple communities without them gathering in the same space.
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