Saturday 12 July 2014

Chapelle St Vincent de Paul

Paris is full of amazing places. Some of them are really obvious like Sainte Chapelle or Opera Garnier. Some are hidden behind rather nondescript facades.


Like the rather amazing Chapelle St Vincent de Paul on Rue de Sevres in the 6th. Chapelle St Vincent de Paul was just a few doors down from our rented apartment in Paris last year. So I visited a few times. Step inside, it's cool, dark and soothing. 


Like every church in Paris there is much to see. 



Stunning details.





 But there is something very special in this particular church too.







Walk down to the far end of the church, and find the arch

 and the stairs leading up


 to the shrine of St Vincent de Paul.


You are soon face to face with the reconstructed face of St Vincent de Paul.

His skeleton was exhumed, and covered with wax.
I found it rather disturbing.
Amazing, but disturbing.
Chapelle St Vincent de Paul
95 Rue de Sevres
Paris 75006


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12 comments:

  1. Deb Nance at Readerbuzz12 July 2014 at 20:42

    Yes, quite disturbing. But beautiful, too, in a shocking sort of way. Thank you for taking us along.

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  2. Peggy Ann12 July 2014 at 22:06

    Who think from the front of that building how very beautiful it is inside! The body is a little creepy knowing that it is his real skeleton under that wax! Thanks for taking me somewhere I will never get to 'really' go!

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  3. Anonymous12 July 2014 at 23:33

    These are stunning photos, Louise. I'm always at awe at how the cathedrals and worship places in history are so magnificent and compared to what we have nowadays are just paltry. I agree with you, that exhumed waxed body is very disturbing.

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  4. Sean @ His And Her Hobbies13 July 2014 at 00:01

    Wonderful photos! I would love to visit Europe some day but I would not get to see much as I would spend too long in one spot taking a hundred photos.

    Sean at His and Her Hobbies

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  5. Laurel-Rain Snow13 July 2014 at 00:25

    Oh, awesome shots...the last one, not so much...LOL.

    Thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog.

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  6. Sandra Nachlinger13 July 2014 at 00:48

    Beautiful photos of a lovely place. I like the way you stepped back and showed the overall beauty of the chapel and then moved in closer to show the details. Amazing workmanship.
    I've never been to Paris, but it's on my list of places to go.

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  7. Leslie (Under My Apple Tree)13 July 2014 at 01:48

    Just beautiful! But yeah, too much information on that waxed skeleton.

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  8. Anne@HeadFullofBooks13 July 2014 at 03:23

    Isn't it funny/odd how cathedrals and churches in Europe can look so plain on the outside and so opulent on the inside. Amazing. Here is my post: http://tinyurl.com/n53ugk9

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  9. Joy13 July 2014 at 10:38

    Those are stunning details! That wax is kind of disturbing -- what an interesting thing to do in a church.

    Joy's Book Blog

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  10. Paulita 14 July 2014 at 09:20

    Terrific post, Louise. I don't believe I've ever been to Chapelle St. Vincent de Paul. The reconstructed face is kind of creepy, but the details look beautiful.

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  11. Tamara14 July 2014 at 20:09

    Hi Louise, I must of missed your post in my weekly wrap up, I'm so sorry... I love a good chapel and beautiful stain glass. My mum used to do stain glass work so Ive always appreciated the efforts it takes.

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  12. Literary Relish15 July 2014 at 05:01

    Oh wow, that's excellent. What a lovely face he had. That's just the right amount of creepy for me to add it to my tour of Paris :)

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for commenting.