Sainte-Clotilde, Paris

Two tall, slender stone spires rise high above the rooftops of the seventh arrondissement, marking the silhouette of the Basilica of Sainte-Clotilde. Built in the mid-nineteenth century, this church introduced the Neo-Gothic style to Paris, a move that sparked intense debate among city officials who preferred classical designs. Architect François-Christian Gau drew inspiration from English cathedrals, bringing sharp, vertical lines to a neighborhood dominated by flat, stone facades. César Franck served as the church’s first organist, composing his masterpieces at the console here.