Église Notre-Dame-de-la-Gare, Catholic church in Place Jeanne-d'Arc, 13th arrondissement of Paris, France
Église Notre-Dame-de-la-Gare is a Romanesque Revival church on Place Jeanne-d'Arc with a high central nave, two lower side aisles, and a square bell tower topped with a pointed spire. Inside are paintings by Felix-Jobbé Duval and two organs, including a notable instrument built by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll.
Construction began in 1847 under architect Claude Naissant, while the parish still belonged to the commune of Ivry; the church was consecrated on 11 November 1859 as Notre-Dame de l'Immaculée-Conception. When the Ivry district was attached to Paris in 1860, the square in front took the name Place Jeanne-d'Arc. Abbé Louis Parguel served as first parish priest from 1847 to 1879.
The name comes from the Gare neighbourhood, not from a station next door; the parish was recorded as Notre-Dame-des-Deux-Moulins. The square became Place Jeanne-d'Arc after the area was attached to Paris in 1860. Sheila was baptised here and married singer Ringo in the church on 13 February 1973.
The church is freely accessible to visitors and hosts regular religious services where you can experience the artistic interior. It is helpful to check opening times beforehand and be respectful of ongoing services and prayer.
The high altar, installed on 25 June 2023 in the presence of Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, is made of Turkish marble and holds relics of thirty saints, among them Saint Anthony of Padua. The same 2023 refit added a new ambo and tabernacle, after the facade was cleaned and the choir rearranged.
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