Saint-Sulpice Church. Located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, it is one of the most significant and largest churches in the city, second in size only to Notre Dame. Its construction lasted for more than one hundred and thirty years, from 1646 to 1780, having been replaced by several architects, which explains the obvious mix of styles from Baroque to classicism. It was originally built on the site of an older Romanesque church of the 12th century. The church stands on the left bank of the Seine, in an area where Roman roads historically ran, and the foundations rest on limestone rocks typical of the Paris basin. The facade was left unfinished, devoid of one of the planned towers, which gives it a unique, somewhat asymmetrical appearance. The interior impresses with its scale and austere elegance. The main treasures inside are the frescoes by Eugene Delacroix, located in the first chapel on the right. Another unique artifact is the gnomon, an astronomical instrument created in the 18th century to accurately determine the date of Easter. This is a copper strip embedded in the floor of the nave, and a system of holes in the windows through which the sunbeam at noon hits the obelisk of white marble and a scale on its surface, marking the vernal equinox. The mystical halo of Saint-Sulpice was given by Dan Brown's novel "The Da Vinci Code", where the church is represented as the location of the legendary Priory of Sion on the so-called Paris Meridian, or "Pink Line", which is really marked on the floor of the building. This line, which is the astronomical meridian, the predecessor of Greenwich, has become the object of numerous speculations and conspiracy theories. Although there is no direct evidence of unusual phenomena, the very atmosphere of the ancient, semi-dark temple with its complex history and scientific curiosities creates a sense of mystery and connection with the past, attracting both pilgrims and lovers of the mysteries of history. The gnomon was interpreted not as a scientific instrument, but as part of a complex symbolic code. The reason for the popularity of speculation lies in the romanticization of secret societies and the desire to find hidden meanings in real historical objects, combining disparate facts — the astronomical line, the old church, the legends of the Templars — into a fascinating, but historically unconfirmed conspiracy theory.

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İrina Kantser

Level 12 Local Expert

Saint‑Sulpice Church is a place where everyone goes with their own purpose. Someone wants to see the second largest cathedral in Paris, someone remembers the plot of the Da Vinci Code, and someone is looking for the famous French meridian. All this is gathered in one amazing place. If Saint‑Germain‑de‑Pre is considered the oldest church in the city, while Saint‑Sulpice ranks second in size, second only to Notre Dame. It stands to the north of the Luxembourg Gardens and looks very impressive: it was built around 1700 in the classical style. At first glance, the facade seems perfectly symmetrical, but if you look closely, you can see the rough stone sections on the south tower — they have not been completed for decades. Inside, the church makes a serious impression. The interior has long been known for three frescoes by Delacroix in a side chapel and a huge 18th-century organ with five keyboards. It is still played during concerts, and the sound fills the entire space, creating a special atmosphere.

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Евгений

Level 30 Local Expert

It's a very beautiful church, and it immediately attracts attention. Only then do you realize that she has different asymmetrical towers. Inside, it also looks very solemn and there are few parishioners and tourists. It is located near the Luxembourg Gardens.

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Église Saint-Sulpice

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