Church of Sainte Marie-Madeleine

The Church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, commonly known as La Madeleine, resides in Paris's 8th arrondissement on Place de la Madeleine. Its inception traces back to Louis XV's vision for the Rue Royale and the subsequent Place Louis XV, now Place de la Concorde. Initially planned in 1763 by Pierre Contant d'Ivry and Guillaume-Martin Couture, interruptions due to the French Revolution halted its completion. Napoleon Bonaparte later repurposed it in Neoclassical style as a tribute to his armies, with construction resuming after his downfall in 1814.

Featuring a design reminiscent of an ancient Greek or Roman temple, the church's exterior boasts Corinthian columns on all sides. Its interior showcases notable frescoes adorning the domed ceiling and monumental sculptures crafted by prominent 19th-century French artists like François Rude and Charles Marochetti.

The church's history saw shifts in purpose—from proposed library, ballroom, and marketplace during the Revolutionary government to Napoleon's declaration of it as "A Temple to the Glory of the Grand Army." Ultimately completed in 1842 during King Louis-Philippe's reign, it was dedicated to Mary Magdalene.

La Madeleine became a site associated with renowned figures in music and art, hosting the funerals of Chopin, Offenbach, Gounod, and others. Additionally, during the Paris Commune of 1871, the church's curé, Abbé Deguerry, faced arrest and execution alongside Archbishop Georges Darboy and others.