15 Beautiful and Fascinating Churches in France You Don’t Have to Be Religious to Appreciate

Religious sites in France aren’t just places of worship—they’re architectural and cultural icons, filled with centuries-old artistry and history.

From grand cathedrals to intimate chapels, each site reflects different periods, styles, and regional influences.

I love visiting churches when visiting France and am always in awe of the beautiful and varied structures that stand as monuments to French culture, and the communities who built and sustained them.

These churches showcase everything from Gothic spires and stained glass to Neo-Byzantine mosaics, all while preserving relics, murals, and intricate carvings that are an integral part of France’s past.

Visiting them is a chance to appreciate the engineering feats that created towering vaults, delicate stonework, and immense stained-glass windows that are sometimes close to 1000 years old.

These are 15 of my favorite churches and religious buildings in France – and I know you’ll love them too.

15 Most Beautiful Churches in France

1. Notre Dame de Paris

We have to start this list with Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, one of the most beautiful and famous Gothic cathedrals in the world. In fact, Notre Dame is one of the most visited monuments in all of France, welcoming over 12 million people every year.

Ile de la Cité one of the two islands in the Seine River, and is the oldest inhabited spot in the city, and sits just a few meters from Paris’s ground zero.

Notre Dame took about 200 years to complete – it was started in 1163 and completed in 1345, although many modifications, renovations, and changes were done in later years.

Notre Dame is a pinnacle example of fine Gothic architecture. Key features of Gothic architecture include pointed arches, stained glass windows, gargoyles, and flying buttresses. Flying buttresses are exterior supports on the building to help support the tall walls and delicate stained glass windows.

Notre Dame has beautiful stained glass windows, including a breathtaking Rose window, elaborate stonework, and distinctive, tall, square spires.

The façade is particularly impressive, as visitors are welcomed by three ornate portals covered in sculptures, each with its own symbolism, as well as sculptures and ornamentation all the way up to the towers depicting Biblical figures and holy persons.

The cathedral is also home to many significant religious and historical relics, such as a piece of the Crown of Thorns.

Notre Dame also shows up frequently in history. Napoleon was crowned Emporer in the cathedral. Victor Hugo’s novel “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” was instrumental in inspiring much needed renovations in the 19th century.

It’s an incredible place that deserves a spot on any Paris bucket list.

2. Mont St Michel

Mont Saint Michel is an abbey fortress that seriously looks like a fairytale. The abbey is over 1000 years old and is a fortress-like building perched right on top of a tiny island that rises dramatically above the surrounding bay just off the coast in Northern France

Legend states that Saint Michael came to the Bishop Aubert of Avranches (a nearby city) and told him to build an abbey for him.

Aubert didn’t listen until Saint Michael touched his forehead, leaving an imprint on his head and finally convincing the bishop to start construction on the abbey.

Several places in the abbey have murals dedicated to Saint Michael, who is generally portrayed with a sword and slaying the dragon (aka the devil). 

A visit to the abbey takes you through 13 rooms, including the crypts underneath that support the abbey, multiple chapels and churches, a cloister garden, and dining and reading rooms. 

The rooms are grand and the engineering is impressive – sometimes you see the spots where the island rock and abbey stones touch and almost intertwine.

And while visiting the actual abbey of Mont St Michel is amazing, looking at the tiny island from the coastline is possibly even more incredible!

3. Fourviere Basilica in Lyon

The Fourviere Basilica is one of the most prominent landmarks in Lyon, France’s third-largest city, and is a stunning example of Neo-Byzantine architecture.

This basilica, a relatively recent addition to Lyon, almost looks like something straight out of a fairytale instead of a religious place of worship. The four towers and crenellations certainly call to mind typical castle architecture!

My jaw literally dropped while walking inside. The entire surface of the basilica is covered either in mosaics and accepted by sculptures or marble columns – nothing is painted, and nothing is left plain. 

Plus, the history of the basilica is fascinating. During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the bishop of Lyon prayed to have the city spared from being invaded and conquered by the Prussians. He promised to build a basilica honoring Mary if the city escaped unscathed.

After the war (and indeed Lyon was victorious), the bishop made good on his promise, and the basilica, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, was constructed starting in 1872.

Honestly, I can’t believe more people aren’t talking about the Fourvière Basilica – it made this list as easily as Mont St Michel did!

4. Cathedral in Chartres

Chartres Cathedral, regarded as one of the finest Gothic cathedrals in Western Europe, has a long history shaped by resilience.

The current structure, built in the early 13th century, replaced five previous churches that had all been destroyed by fire. This version of Chartres survived and stands today as a masterpiece of Gothic architecture.

Its stained glass is world-famous, especially the “Blue Virgin” window, which glows with vivid blues unique to the cathedral.

The contrasting spires—one Romanesque and the other Gothic—add to its distinctive appearance, while the cathedral’s intricate stone carvings and flying buttresses showcase remarkable craftsmanship.

Chartres has drawn pilgrims for centuries, and the labyrinth embedded in its floor serves as a symbol of spiritual journey and contemplation, echoing the experiences of medieval worshippers.

Today, the Chartres Cathedral is regarded as one of the most complete and best-preserved Gothic cathedrals in the world.

5. Strasbourg Cathedral

The Strasbourg Cathedral, towering over the Grande Île that is Strasbourg’s Old Town, is a massive Gothic masterpiece with a unique, unbalanced profile due to its single spire.

Once the tallest building in the world, this cathedral has an intricate façade covered in detailed sculptures, latticework, and classic Gothic elements like flying buttresses and gargoyles.

Inside, the soaring ceilings and vibrant stained glass windows capture the grandeur of Gothic architecture, while the Romanesque-style nave and transept are a reminder that the cathedral’s construction took over 250 years.

A highlight of the cathedral is its astronomical clock, an elaborate 16th-century marvel located at the back of the church. Each day at noon, the clock performs a mechanical show that requires a separate ticket for viewing, drawing visitors eager to witness this intricate display.

I particularly enjoyed the cathedral’s rooftop terrace that can be reached by climbing a 330-step spiral staircase. From the top, you’ll get impressive views of the charming half-timbered buildings that fill Strasbourg, as well as a close up look at the flying buttresses.

6. Sacré Coeur Basilica in Paris

Sacré Coeur is the shining jewel of the Montmartre neighborhood in Paris, and is an impressive basilica with shockingly white domes. Thanks to the particular travertine stone used in construction, the basilica stays a gorgeous white year after year.

And thanks to being set on a hill (Montmartre means “Mountain of the Martyrs”), it towers over the surrounding neighborhoods, creating one of the more dramatic views you’ll find in Paris. The church is a solid 200 meters (650 feet) above the Seine.

The Bishop of Nantes suggested the construction of the basilica after a major French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. The bishop believed that France had been in a state of “moral decline” since the French Revolution, and proposed a church dedicated to the “sacré coeur” or sacred heart of Jesus.

Despite being a fixture of Paris, this church is quite new – it was dedicated in 1919.

The basilica is filled with soaring domes, stained glass windows, and colorful murals in a Neo-Byzantine Romanesque style. No photos are allowed inside, so you’ll just have to go and experience it for yourself!

You can also climb up Sacré Coeur’s towers and into the main basilica dome for incredible views over Paris.

7. Chapelle des Carmelites in Toulouse

The Carmelites Chapel in Toulouse is undoubtedly the smallest religious building on this list, but my jaw dropped when we walked inside – it is STUNNING. This beautiful, single-room chapel of the Carmelite order was constructed in 1622 and is the only part of what was once a larger Carmelite convent.

The vaulted ceiling really takes this monument to the next level – with the oak paneling and hanging keystones adorning the ceiling, and the murals and frescos inspired by the Sistine Chapel paintings.

The chapel is considered a masterpiece of 18th-century Toulouse, and I have to agree.

8. St André Cathedral in Bordeaux

Saint André Cathedral is a stunning Gothic cathedral with intricate architecture and an interesting historical background.

It was first built in the 11th century, but due to several unfortunate events, only a few remnants of the original infrastructure remain today. The cathedral we now see today is a product of several restorations over the following centuries.

One of its main highlights is its Royal Gate, which dates back to the 13th century. It’s also popular for its beautiful towers, high-vaulted ceilings, religious sculptures, stained glass windows, and its huge organ, which is one of the largest in France.

This is the cathedral where the 13-year-old Eleanor of Aquitaine married her first husband, King Louis VII of France, in 1137. She later divorced him and married the King of England and became the mother of Richard the Lionheart.

One of the interesting parts of the cathedral is that the bell tower – the Pey Berland Tower – holds the 4th largest bell set in France, and is actually detached and free-standing from the church. The marshy soil in Bordeaux requires the two to be separate so it’s not too heavy.

Pey Berland Tower is best experienced by climbing its 229-step staircase to the top of the tower. From there, you can have a breathtaking panoramic view of the city of Bordeaux and a really cool vantage point over the rooftop of the cathedral.

9. Notre Dame de la Garde in Marseille

Notre Dame de la Garde is the symbol of Marseille, and is set on the 154 m (500 foot) Garde hill to watch over sailors, fishermen, and the people of Marseille.

This iconic church is visible from the Old Port, the sea, and many places around Marseille, and is also known as “la Bonne Mère” (the Good Mother), for the giant golden statue of the Virgin Mary at the top of the church.

The Garde Hill has been the location of a military fort since the 1500s, when it was constructed to protect the city. A small chapel and sanctuary have also been on the hill since the 1200s.

In the mid-1800’s, a strong military presence on the hill was no longer quite as crucial and the existing chapel was much too small for the worshipers and pilgrims that came to pray, so the current Notre Dame de la Garde basilica was constructed.

The basilica is incredibly beautiful and has a very unique Roman-Byzantine style for France. The outside is striped stone, and the interior features soaring domes, striped pillars and arches, gold leafing, and mosaics.

In fact, thanks to its beauty and incredible 360° views, the Notre Dame de la Garde basilica is the most visited monument in Marseille.

10. Notre Dame in Amiens

Notre Dame d’Amiens is the largest Gothic cathedral in all of France and looks like almost an exact copy of Notre Dame in Paris – with the two square bell towers, arched entrances full of sculptures, gargoygles, and a huge stained glass rosary. It is awe-inspiring and enormous. 

The interior space is soaring, with large stained glass windows, arched ceilings, statues and sculptures, a gorgeous altarpiece, and intricately decorated chapels around the perimeter of the church.

One of the biggest points of pride for the Amiens Cathedral is that it holds a relic of John the Baptist.

This relic has changed locations many times throughout history and was almost lost in the French Revolution. Today, John the Baptist’s skull (minus the lower jaw) is encased in silver and on display in the church.

A light show (Called the Chroma show) plays on the face of the cathedral every night during the summer (usually from July 14 to the end of September). This is a very fun event in Amiens and lasts for 45 minutes, starting after sunset.

Interestingly, the construction of the cathedral was primarily financed through the production and sale of Waide, a yellow flower which actually turns into one of the few natural blue dyes in the world. The flower was grown in the hortillonages (floating gardens) of Amiens.

11. Sainte-Chapelle in Paris

Although not as famous as Notre Dame, Sainte-Chapelle is perhaps even more beautiful. This small chapel is filled with floor-to-ceiling, intricate stained-glass windows that create a multi-colored wonder.

The 15 stained glass bays that make up the 15 meter (50 foot) walls of the chapel are filled with 1113 stained glass panels recounting Old and New Testament stories, as well as scenes from history.

Walking through the room surrounded by the soaring, colorful stained glass is awe-inspiring, to say the least, as you are bathed in light streaming through the purple, blue, and red-tinted windows.

Sainte-Chapelle was commissioned in the 1200s by Louis IX, future Saint Louis, to house the incredible relics of the Crown of Thorns and a fragment of the True Cross.

In the Middle Ages, being in possession of relics was very prestigious, and having such important relics like the crown and the cross was a big deal for Paris.

In fact, the cost to buy these relics (and others) from Byzantium in 1239 was nearly half the annual income of the kingdom of France.

However, the shrine and most of the relics were lost during the French Revolution. The crown of thorns was preserved and today is in the treasury of Notre-Dame Cathedral.

12. Russian Cathedral in Nice

A Russian influenced church with multiple steeples ( circular and rectangular)

The Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas of Nice, often referred to as the Russian Cathedral, offers a surprising peek into Russian heritage right in the center of Nice. The cathedral was constructed in 1912 for the significant Russian population that had made Nice their home by the early 20th century.

The site of the cathedral is the spot where the son of Tzar Alexander II died suddenly from meningitis when he was staying in Nice. The tzar had bought the park and built a chapel in honor of his son here, and the cathedral was built right next to the cathedral.

Its exterior features the distinctive onion domes characteristic of Russian Orthodox churches, while the interior is lavishly adorned with vibrant hues, gold leaf, and intricate paintings covering the walls and ceilings.

This is a really fun hidden gem to discover in Nice.

13. Rocamadour

Rocamadour is a stunning and incredibly unique village in France, made famous for the jaw-dropping Notre Dame Sanctuary, a complex of chapels and churches perched right on the side of a cliff above a tiny village.

The Grand Staircase leads from the village up into the sanctuary, where castle-like buildings and archways around the main courtyard are overshadowed by the cliff. It’s pretty awe-inspiring to be hanging off the mountainside.

The Chapel Notre Dame de Rocamadour is the most famous building for housing the black Virgin Mary statue. This statue is associated with miracles and protection for sailors. The church’s bell has no clapper, but sometimes still gongs of its own accord; and it is said that when it rings a miracle occurs.

Next to the chapel is the cathedral Saint Solvere which has a double vault, a nice stained glass of the Good Shepherd, and an organ resembling a ship. There are around 4 other chapels and a crypt in the complex, as well.

Between the 12th and 16th centuries, Rocamadour was part of the great pilgrimages of the Christan Occidental. This was the city’s golden age as it was visited by thousands, including famous visitors such as King Charles IV, King Philip VI, King Louis XI, St. Bernard, St. Dominique, and Saint Louis. 

One fun fact – pilgrims would traditionally walk up the Grand Staircase on their knees to show devotion!

14. Saint Germain des Pres in Paris

Saint-Germain-des-Pres is a gorgeous, colorful Gothic church located in the heart of the St Germain quarter, right across the street from the famous Les Deux Magots café.

It is considered the oldest church in Paris, and although Gothic style is common in Paris, it is unlike any other religious building in the city. 

The church was first founded in 558, although it was rebuilt and expanded multiple times over the years, notably in the 1100-1300’s.

During the French Revolution, the church was badly damaged and was almost completely destroyed (and parts of the church complex were totally demolished).

In the early 1800’s a complete restoration and a total re-decoration and re-imagination of the church were undertaken, and the interior was painted the colorful hues we enjoy today.

The main ceiling of the nave is covered in stars set against an azure background, punctuated by colorful archways and fanciful and geometric designs on the columns.

I loved how vibrant and colorful the church is!

15. Sainte-Cécile Cathedral in Albi

Last but not least, Albi! Albi is home to the largest brick cathedral in France, and not only is it the largest brick cathedral, it is one of the most stunning religious buildings in the country, bar none. We walked in and our jaws literally dropped! 

The church is immense and soaring, and every square inch of the ceiling, walls, and archways are covered in colorful, intricate paintings. Many of the side chapels in the cathedral have trompe-l’oeil geometric designs making the paintings look like they are almost popping off the walls. 

The church has a lot of castle-type elements, from its main pillars to some of the decorative ornamentation on the roof. There is a liberal use of red marble throughout the building.

You enter the church from an intricate side porch built 200 years after the main cathedral, signifying passing from secular to religious world.

The Archbishop in Albi had immense political power as well as religious power for hundreds of years, and the cathedral and neighboring Archbishop’s Palace were designed to showcase that power.

The cathedral was also designed to demonstrate that the townspeople were true believers of the Catholic faith, as a series of long crusades had just occurred to fight “heathen Christians” further south in France.

The Wrap Up

France’s churches are an amazing way to experience the country’s artistic and architectural heritage up close. Each one reflects a different piece of history, from Gothic spires to vibrant mosaics, making these sites both beautiful and memorable.

Whether you’re drawn to intricate details or peaceful spaces, visiting these churches is a perfect way to connect with France’s culture and history.