Notre-Dame-des-Missions-du-cygne d'Enghien, Modern Catholic church in Épinay-sur-Seine, France

Notre-Dame-des-Missions-du-cygne d'Enghien is a Roman Catholic church on avenue Joffre in Épinay-sur-Seine, built of reinforced concrete on an elongated basilical plan with a tall nave and two side aisles. Its entrance carries three stacked roofs in Chinese style, and the bell tower takes the form of a minaret. The facade is covered in blue-and-white glazed tiles with Chinese characters and geometric and floral panels, several of them cracked.

Built as the chapel of the Catholic Missions pavilion at the 1931 Colonial Exhibition in the Bois de Vincennes, it was designed by Paul Tournon at the urging of Marshal Hubert Lyautey and Admiral Lucien Lacaze. A national subscription funded its transfer to Épinay-sur-Seine, on land given by the Firmin-Didot family at 102 avenue Joffre, and it was rebuilt in reinforced concrete in 1932. Cardinal Jean Verdier inaugurated it in 1933; the great bell followed in 1935.

The name joins the 1931 exhibition's dedication to Our Lady of the Missions with the "Swan of Enghien" district where the church was rebuilt. Twelve trapezoidal frescoes on marouflé canvas cover the partition walls, mapping the spread of Christianity; Henri de Maistre placed French martyrs against a map of Canada's lakes and cities, while Georges Desvallières painted Charles de Foucauld in southern Algeria and the Sahara.

The church is easily accessible by public transportation and welcomes visitors during regular Mass times and religious events. It is best to check the exact hours before arriving, as schedules may vary depending on the season and specific activities.

Ceramic works by Lorymi and Raymond Virac decorate the facade and represent different cultural groups, while concrete sculptures by Carlos Sarrabezolles complete the artistic vision. This artistic collaboration made the site an early example of modern sacred art with a global message.