In this guide
Famous cathedrals and great churches of Paris compared
| Building | Status | Style / date | Entry | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notre-Dame de Paris | Catholic cathedral | Gothic, 1163–1345 | Free (towers €16) | The icon, reborn in 2024 |
| Basilica-Cathedral of Saint-Denis | Catholic cathedral (since 1966) | First Gothic church, 1140s | Paid for the royal tombs | Birthplace of Gothic, tombs of the kings of France |
| Sainte-Chapelle | Royal chapel | Rayonnant Gothic, 1242–1248 | Paid, timed ticket | 1,113 stained-glass scenes |
| Sacré-Cœur | Basilica | Romano-Byzantine, 1875–1914 | Free (dome paid) | View over Paris from Montmartre |
| Saint-Louis-des-Invalides | Cathedral of the French military diocese | 17th century | With the Invalides ticket | Next to Napoleon’s tomb |
| Alexander Nevsky Cathedral | Russian Orthodox cathedral | Neo-Byzantine, 1861 | Free | Golden domes near Parc Monceau |
| American Cathedral in Paris | Episcopal (Anglican) cathedral | Neo-Gothic, 1886 | Free | English-language services, near the Champs-Élysées |
| Saint-Jean-Baptiste Armenian Cathedral | Armenian Apostolic cathedral | 1904 | Free | A hidden gem in the 8th arrondissement |
Notre-Dame de Paris
The cathedral of the Archbishop of Paris and the most visited monument in the city. Free to enter, with optional free reservations: everything is in our Notre-Dame reservations guide. Climb the towers for the best view of Île de la Cité, and read about its Gothic architecture before you go.
The Basilica-Cathedral of Saint-Denis
About 20 minutes from central Paris on metro line 13, Saint-Denis is where Gothic architecture was born, under Abbot Suger in the 1140s. It became a cathedral in 1966 and holds the tombs of 42 kings and 32 queens of France, from Dagobert to Louis XVIII, including the extraordinary Renaissance tombs and Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. If you love Notre-Dame, it is the most rewarding half-day trip you can make.
Tours and tickets for Saint-Denis
Sainte-Chapelle
Five minutes’ walk from Notre-Dame, on the same island, Saint Louis’s chapel was built in just six years to house the Crown of Thorns. Its upper chapel is almost entirely made of glass: 15 windows nearly 15 m high telling the Bible in 1,113 scenes. Book a timed ticket, or combine it with Notre-Dame on a guided tour.
Sainte-Chapelle tickets and tours
Sacré-Cœur
The white domes on the hill of Montmartre are often called a cathedral, but Sacré-Cœur is a basilica, built after 1870 and consecrated in 1919. Entry is free; climbing the dome (about 300 steps) is paid and gives one of the highest viewpoints in Paris.
Other cathedrals in Paris
Saint-Alexandre-Nevsky, rue Daru, has been the main Russian Orthodox church of Paris since 1861; Picasso married Olga Khokhlova there in 1918. A second Orthodox cathedral, Holy Trinity, opened in 2016 by the Seine near the Eiffel Tower. The American Cathedral in Paris, avenue George-V, holds English-language Episcopal services and is popular with US visitors. The Armenian cathedral Saint-Jean-Baptiste, rue Jean-Goujon, is small but beautiful.
And many churches look like cathedrals without being one: Saint-Sulpice (the second largest church in Paris), Saint-Eustache, Saint-Étienne-du-Mont next to the Panthéon, and the Greek-temple-like La Madeleine.
Gothic cathedral cities near Paris
France has dozens of medieval cathedrals; these are the easiest day trips from Paris:
| City | Cathedral | Travel time from Paris | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chartres | Notre-Dame de Chartres | About 1 h by train | The finest medieval stained glass in the world, UNESCO |
| Reims | Notre-Dame de Reims | About 45 min by TGV | Coronation cathedral of the kings, the « Smiling Angel »; Champagne houses |
| Amiens | Notre-Dame d’Amiens | About 1 h 10 by train | The largest Gothic cathedral in France |
| Rouen | Notre-Dame de Rouen | About 1 h 15 by train | Painted by Monet more than 30 times |
| Beauvais | Saint-Pierre de Beauvais | About 1 h 15 by train | The highest Gothic choir ever built (48 m) |
Frequently asked questions
How many cathedrals are there in Paris?
Paris has one Catholic cathedral, Notre-Dame, plus the military cathedral of Saint-Louis-des-Invalides and several cathedrals of other Christian churches (Russian Orthodox, Episcopal, Armenian). The Basilica-Cathedral of Saint-Denis is just outside the city limits.
Is Sacré-Cœur a cathedral?
No. Sacré-Cœur is a basilica. The cathedral of Paris is Notre-Dame.
What is the most famous cathedral in Paris?
Notre-Dame de Paris, which reopened in December 2024 after the 2019 fire and welcomed about 11 million visitors in 2025.
Which French city is famous for its cathedral?
Chartres for its stained glass, Reims for the coronations of the kings, Amiens as the largest Gothic cathedral in France, and Strasbourg for its pink sandstone spire. In Paris, Notre-Dame is the city’s cathedral.
Is Sainte-Chapelle a cathedral?
No, it is a royal palace chapel built in the 1240s by King Louis IX to house relics of the Passion.