The Church That Almost Became a Train Station - La Madeleine

In the heart of Paris, there’s a famous church named La Madeleine, pronounced “Madeline,” officially translated as “Madeleine.” Its construction spanned 85 years, with each change in historical context leading to alterations in the architectural plans. 🏛️ In 1758, Louis XV intended to build a church, but six years later, the architect passed away. In 1777, a new architect took over, only for the French Revolution to halt the construction. In 1806, Napoleon transformed the “church” into a “Temple of Glory” to commemorate military victories, inspired by ancient Greek temples, but his fall from power led to another interruption. In the mid-19th century, during Paris’s urban transformation, there was a suggestion to turn the church, located in such a prime city center spot, into a train station! After much deliberation between a religious and functional building, Louis XVIII finally restored it as a church, completing its construction in 1842 with a flourish.🎉 🏛️ There are guides and introductions in Chinese, making it very international. 🏛️ The organ is a significant feature of the church. In 1849, Chopin’s funeral was held here. The organ recitals are scheduled according to the mass times, so don’t miss out! 🎶 Saturday: 11:00 AM in the chapel, 6:00 PM organ recital Sunday: 9:30 AM organ recital, 11:00 AM Latin chant, 12:30 PM organ recital, 6:00 PM organ recital #ClassicismAndModernism #BeautyOfArchitecturalArt #HistoryOfWesternArt #HistoryAndArt #ClassicalArchitecture #ArtAppreciation #RetroAestheticSpace #Musician #Organ