Audio GuideBasilica of Notre-Dame des Victoires
Basilique Notre-Dame-des-Victoires
Church built by King Louis XIII in 1629, with thousands of ex-voto plaques on its interior walls.
Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Basilica is nestled in the heart of Paris, offering visitors a compelling journey through history and devotion. Established by the Discalced Augustinians in sixteen twenty-nine, the basilica began as a humble abbey church. King Louis the Thirteenth envisioned this place, laying its cornerstone after his triumph at La Rochelle in sixteen twenty-eight. Over the years, it has transformed into a fine specimen of French classical Baroque architecture.
Within its walls, you’ll discover a grand nave flanked by sturdy columns, towering vaulted ceilings, and intricately carved choir stalls. The basilica is famed for its vast collection of ex-voto offerings, comprising more than thirty-seven thousand devotional tablets, along with silver and gold hearts and military decorations. These tokens express gratitude for centuries of personal miracles and enduring faith.
The basilica is rich with artistic wonders, including a series of paintings by Charles-André van Loo and vibrant stained glass windows crafted in the late nineteenth century, each adding layers of spiritual symbolism. Throughout its history, luminaries such as Wolfgang Mozart, Cardinal Newman, and Thérèse Martin have drawn inspiration from this sacred place. Today, Notre-Dame-des-Victoires stands as a beloved emblem of Paris's abundant cultural and religious tapestry.