Audio GuideSaint-Eugène Sainte-Cécile Church

Welcome to Église Saint-Eugène-Sainte-Cécile, a historic Roman Catholic church located at six rue Sainte-Cécile in Paris’s ninth arrondissement. Built between eighteen fifty-four and eighteen fifty-five in a striking mix of Neo-Gothic and Second Empire styles, this church was the first in France to use a completely iron-framed construction. This inventive design allowed for a large, airy interior behind a modest and reserved exterior featuring simple triangular gables, a rose window, and a small tympanum.

Tamás Paczolay

Step inside to discover towering iron columns painted in vivid blues, reds, and greens, supporting high vaulted ceilings with decorative rib patterns. The richly colored stained glass windows, crafted by renowned nineteenth-century French artists, depict timeless scenes such as the Transfiguration, the Last Supper, and the Stations of the Cross. Intricate wood and metal work adorn the carved pulpit, elegant baptismal font with angel motifs, and lavish altar decoration.

Louis Pernot

Originally built to serve the growing Faubourg Poissonnière district, the church was dedicated to Saint Eugène—a companion of Saint Denis—and later also to Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians, reflecting its close ties with the nearby Paris Conservatory. Among its notable moments is the wedding of famed author Jules Verne. Music enthusiasts will also appreciate the grand pipe organ by Joseph Merklin, first showcased at the Exposition Universelle. Today, both traditional services and a Solemn High Mass sung in Latin invite visitors to enjoy a unique blend of history, art, and living tradition in the heart of Paris.

claudia orlandie

Icare Phenix