150 Churches in Paris and elsewhere

  You will have noticed that religion has less influence than it did a few decades ago. In general, I think this is a good thing, but the downside is that churches are fairly often closed when you want to visit them. So this is one of those churches I had to come back to a few months later to complete my photo shoot. The church was opened in 1966 and replaced a previous building which was in ruins. Daniel Michelin was the architect. He must have been tired after that (I'll get my coat). Seriously though, Daniel was the grandson of the well-known founder of the tyre manufacturers and of the tourist guidebooks. I am a sucker for modern churches, and this one has a stunning baptismal  font, with a representation of your old friend the Holy Spirit, I think. It also has a stylish virgin and child, and crucifix, and the enamelled modern stations of the cross (by Francesca Guerrier) are impressive. In the entrance there is a revisiting of stained glass with translucent slabs of colou...

  Really beautiful towering spaces and cloister. This was built for an order of begging monks back in the thirteenth century (vow of poverty, give us a bob or two and we'll pray for your soul). It is a high point of your Southern French Gothic style, and provided a significant amount of work for local brickies. The style was part of a more austere more aggressive architecture which was meant to help persuade people tempted by the heresy of the Cathars (no sacraments, no private property, big role for women) to remain within the fold and therefore avoid risking torture and death. Albi cathedral (my favourite cathedral) is another example of this style. The building contains the relics of St Thomas Aquinas (star 14th century catholic philosopher). Information in English Information in French Information in Occitan