Église Saint-Léon, Art Deco church in 15th arrondissement, France
Église Saint-Léon is a church building in Paris's 15th arrondissement constructed entirely from concrete in the Art Deco style. Large windows pierce the geometric forms and flood the interior with natural light.
The first stone was consecrated on 15 October 1924 by Cardinal Louis Dubois, and the first Mass was said on 30 October 1925 in a single completed side aisle. The parish became independent of Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Grenelle on 29 June 1926. The apse was inaugurated in 1930, the facade and bell tower begun in 1932, and the church dedicated on 9 March 1947.
The name honours Pope Leo the Great and also Léon Thélier, husband of the main donor, and his son Marcel, a Jesuit killed in the First World War. Above the portal, mosaics show Leo persuading Attila the Hun to spare Rome. A bust of Cardinal Amette stands at the entrance.
The building sits on Place du Cardinal Amette and is easy to reach on foot. Visitors should note that opening times vary, and daytime visits are recommended to fully experience the natural light pouring through the windows.
The building was constructed entirely from concrete, which was unusual for church architecture at that time. This material was typically reserved for factories and industrial buildings, not religious spaces.
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