Nanterre Cathedral, Roman Catholic cathedral in Nanterre, France
Nanterre Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral west of Paris, built in a Romanesque style with rounded arches and a facade that also shows Art Deco influences. Inside, stained glass windows run along the nave and filter colored light through the building.
The church was built in the early 20th century and served as a parish church for the growing city of Nanterre. It became a cathedral in 1966 when the Diocese of Nanterre was created by splitting off territory from the Versailles and Paris dioceses.
The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris, who was born in Nanterre. Visitors can see a shrine and artworks inside that celebrate her life and her connection to this part of the region.
The cathedral sits in the center of Nanterre and is easy to reach by metro, as the city is directly connected to the Paris network. Religious services take place regularly, so visiting outside of Mass times tends to give more space to look around.
Architect Pierre Sabatier designed the building by combining Romanesque forms with Art Deco details, which was unusual for church construction at that time. The combination is most visible on the facade, where rounded arches sit next to geometric ornaments.
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