Chapelle expiatoire, Religious memorial in 8th arrondissement, Paris, France
The Chapelle Expiatoire is a neoclassical memorial chapel in the 8th arrondissement built between 1815 and 1826. Inside, a central dome overlooks white marble sculptures and a crypt situated below ground level.
King Louis XVIII ordered this chapel to be built at the burial site of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette after their executions during the French Revolution. Its completion marked an attempt to honor the royal couple and move past the upheaval of the revolutionary era.
Two marble sculptures inside show Louis XVI being guided by an angel toward heaven and Marie Antoinette supported by Religion. These figures represent the spiritual devotion that the chapel was built to express.
The chapel opens Tuesday through Saturday and receives fewer visitors than major Paris attractions, making it easy to explore at your own pace. It sits near public transit and in a quiet corner of the neighborhood, away from heavy crowds.
Archaeologists found four wooden ossuaries buried beneath the grounds holding remains of at least 500 people executed during the French Revolution. This discovery reveals the site holds a much larger and darker history beyond the royal burial.
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These burial sites across Europe hold the remains of nobility and document the stories of ruling families through the centuries. From the grand Kaisergruft in Vienna to the solemn chapels of Windsor Castle, each location shows how different societies honored their dead. The buildings range from...
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