I love Paris! Listed below are some of the places I like to go in Paris when I am in "pilgrimage" mode. They aren't all overtly "spiritual." However, as you visit them, I think you'll understand why they are included here. Know that times listed here could change without notice. If you check before going, you'll be sure to have the most current information. I wish I was going to be there with you!!! Blessings, Jill

Click here for a photo gallery of Paris by night.

Basillica of St. Denis

1 rue de la Legion d'honeru 93200 St. Denis 01-48-09-83-54
Access: Metro Line 13 St. Denis-Basilique; RER line D St. Denis. The cathedral is a short walk from the Metro station. You can look for a map of the area inside the Metro station. Or, you can go up and look up--the cathedral will make itself known pretty quickly!

Jill's comments:
As I remember the basillica, I feel speechless. It is full of inspiration and prayer. It's influence on the Chartres Cathedral was profound. There is an audiotape guide available in English, but I love just wandering around feeling the space.

Hours:
1 April to 30 Sept. 10-7; Sundays 12-7
1 Oct. to 31 March: 10am-5 pm (last admission 30 mins before closing)
Closed: 1 Jan; 1 May; 25 December and during certain services

Chemin St. Jacques (Pilgrimage Route to Compostela in Spain)

Kathy Gower, PhD, has written a wonderful paper entitled Pursuing the Chemin and the Coquille St. Jacques in Paris. You can request a copy from 1125 DeHaw St. San Francisco, CA 94107.

Community of Jerusalem: St. Gervais Church & The Jerusalem Community 
This historic church, the home of a wonderful monastic community, is located one block off the Seine near the Hotel de Ville. It can be spotted on any tourist map.

Jill's comments:
If you want to have a wonderful experience of prayer, go! The women GLOW! The way in which the women's and men's voices blend is amazing. Even if you don't speak French, you will understand the meaning of their prayer.

Times of services:
There are no services on Mondays. The monastic members of the community are on retreat that day.
Silent prayer in the front chapel: one half hour before Lauds (morning prayer)
Lauds (Morning Prayer): Weekdays 7h00 , Saturday and Sunday 8h00
Mid-day prayer: Tuesday through Saturday: 12h30
Vespers (Evening Prayer): Tuesday through Sunday 18h00
Eucharist: Sunday 11h00, Tuesday through Saturday 18h00 (flows right after vespers)

Community of Jerusalem Gift Shop
Fraternite de Jerusalem, 13 rue de Barres 75004 Paris, France
Located across the alley from the church if you go through the doors in the front and to your right.
tel. 01 48 04 39 05     
fax 01 42 77 63 01

Jill's comments:
This is a great place to buy CDs of the community's services. There are also nice journals if you forgot to bring one! The English translation of the rule of the community, In the Heart of the City, In the Heart of God, is on sale here as well.

Hours:
T-F 9h30-12, 13h15-20h00,
Sat.10h-12h,13h15-20h00,
Sun 10h00-10h45, after the mass-13h00

Église Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre (Church and Park)

1, rue St.-Julien-le-Pauvre 75005 Paris

Across the river from Notre-Dame de Paris, this is the oldest church in Paris. It has a lovely park with great (quiet) views of the cathedral. There are often concerts given inside the sanctuary which is home to an Orthodox congregation.

Manuscript Review at the Bibliotecque National de France in Paris

For scholars who are interested in reviewing various manuscripts, this page gives blow by blow instructions about how to get access and use the manuscript library.

Musée Marmottan
2 rue Louis-Boilly  This is a short walk from the Metro station through a wonderful park.

Jill's comments:
A small museum with a fabulous impressionist collection. There is a great collection of miniatures upstairs too. I like to go to the room with Monet's waterlillies, sit on a bench and journal.

Hous: 10h00-17h00, closed Mon.

Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral

Jill's comments:
If you can be at the cathedral when the doors open in the morning, you will have the best opportunity to experience it. I enter, go right to the transept (crossing), find a chair in the prayer area and sit facing one of the amazing rose windows. At the beginning of the day there is enough quiet to be able to really connect with the beauty!

One of the cathedral relics is the crown of thorns. It is brought out one Friday a month and on Good Friday. It is worth waiting in line to experience it (even if the relic is covered in plexiglass)!

A trip up the tower will help you know the cathedral differently. There are a lot of steps. As you pant up them, wonder about how they were put there in the first place!

Hours:
8h00-18h45, closed Sat. 12h30-14h00 (Summer hours: opens at 7h45)
Notre Dame de Paris--Tower 10h00-17h00

Pariscope
If you can read French, you may want to pick up a copy of Pariscope at any newstand. In 2007 it cost E,40. It is a weekly periodical that lists all the cultural events in Paris. Included are all concerts, museums, shows, exhibits, etc. It also lists movies times and locations as well as restaurants.

Procure Bookstore
Right next to St. Sulplice Church
http://www.laprocure.com

Jill's comments:
A french friend sent me here first. All I can say is "Ooo la la!" Have fun!
Theological works in French: Middle Ages, Chartres, Sacred Geometry and many other related topics.
Books in French on many, many subjects. They have a great website that ships internationally. Shipping is usually about 1/3 the cost of the original order.

Religious Sculpture: Soeurs de Bethleem
93, avenue Victor Hugo 75016
Metro: Victor Hugo
Tel & Fax 01-43-54-87-53; From USA 011-33-1-43-54-87-53
Hours are generally 11h00-19h00 Tuesday through Saturday, but call to confirm. Closed Sunday & Monday

Jill's comments: The store moved in October 2007 (Old address was: 18, rue Gregoire de Tours 75006).
The sisters of Bethlehem live a life of silence and prayer. Their work includes carving sculptures with religious significance. You can feel the prayer they exude! Even if you aren't looking for an amazing creche or sculpture, go visit this store. You can almost hear the sculptures talking to you! (Why does one always say it wants to come home with me? :))

Saint Chapelle
enter by 6, Blvd du Palais
(Metro: Cité, Châtelet, or Saint-Michele)

Jill's Comments:
Even if you go half an hour before the chapel opens, you will be waiting in line. Go then anyway. If you can be one of the first people in, you will be best able to get a sense of the space (and not just all the people in the space). The windows are awesome, but if you can get a sense of the whole chapel, you will be in great awe! There are often twilight concerts here. Being in the chapel during the concerts is one of my favorite life-time memories. The sounds, light, and architecture have a profound influence.

Hours:
9h30-17h00;

Twilight concerts: Prices in 2008: 16 Euros for students with a valid card; 25 euros for all others. Times vary. You can get tickets at FNAC, Galeries Lafayette, Digitick.com, Virgin, or Euromusic: 01.42.77.65.65. You can also buy them the day of the concert at the Sainte-Chapelle between 10h00-20h45 and right before the concerts (if they are available). More more information, http://www.solistesfrancais.com.

Recommended Reading:

C. Massin. Paris D'Eglise en Eglise. Paris: Reconnaitre. (Located in the Beaux Arts section: Arts Sacré et architecture.) Descriptions inclue history, art, symbolism, architecture, painting and sculpture.

I would love to hear your favorite place of pilgrimage in Paris.