Destination
Paris & Northern France
Paris is home to the chapel where Our Lady gave St. Catherine Labouré the Miraculous Medal, and to the relics of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louis. Beyond the city, trains reach Lisieux, home of St. Thérèse, and other shrines of northern France.
- Marian Apparition
- Saints & Tombs
- Shrine & Basilica
How long to stay
Suggested lengths of stay
2 days
Start at the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal on Rue du Bac, then walk to the Chapel of St. Vincent de Paul nearby. On day two, visit Notre-Dame de Paris and Sainte-Chapelle on the Île de la Cité, and end with an evening at Sacré-Coeur.
4 days
Add the Basilica of Saint-Denis, burial place of the kings of France, by metro. Then take a day trip by train to Lisieux to visit the Basilica of St. Thérèse.
1 week
Add a day trip to Chartres Cathedral, then go farther to Troyes Cathedral or Our Lady of Pontmain. A car or a well-planned rail itinerary helps for the smaller towns.
In Paris & Northern France
Major sacred sites
- Marian Apparition The Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal The Miraculous Medal owes its origin to the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Chapel of the Rue du Bac, Par…
- Saints & Tombs Chapel of the Congregation of the Mission (Tomb of St. Vincent de Paul) The burial place of St. Vincent de Paul.
- Shrine & Basilica Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Sacre-Coeur) A basilica of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, crowning Montmartre.
- Saints & Tombs Sainte-Chapelle / Saint-Denis (Relics of St. Louis) A church holding relics of St. Louis.
- Saints & Tombs Basilica of Saint-Denis The burial place of St. Denis and Companions.
- Saints & Tombs Basilica of St. Therese of Lisieux A major shrine to St. Therese, the 'Little Flower,' Doctor of the Church.
- Saints & Tombs Troyes Cathedral (Relics of St. Bernard) A church holding relics of St. Bernard.
- Marian Apparition Our Lady of Pontmain During the Franco-Prussian War, Mary appeared in the sky to village children with a message of hope and prayer.
- Shrine & Basilica Notre Dame Cathedral Paris The Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris started construction in 1163, but its origins go back to the seventh century and eve…
Worth combining
Day trips from Paris & Northern France
- Chartres Cathedral A great Gothic cathedral dedicated to Our Lady and an ancient pilgrimage goal. about 1 h 15 train
- Tours Pray at the tomb of St. Martin of Tours, one of France's most loved saints. about 1 h 10 train
- Nevers The incorrupt body of St. Bernadette of Lourdes rests in the convent chapel of Saint-Gildard. about 2 h train
Getting around
Local travel
- From Charles de Gaulle Airport, the RER B train reaches Gare du Nord and Châtelet in about 30 to 50 minutes. From Orly, Metro Line 14 reaches Châtelet in about 25 minutes.
- The metro is the easiest way around Paris. Sèvres-Babylone (Lines 10 and 12) is closest to the Rue du Bac chapel, and Line 13 stops at Basilique de Saint-Denis.
- Notre-Dame de Paris reopened in December 2024. Entry is free, and you can book an optional time slot on the cathedral's official website.
- Sainte-Chapelle needs a timed ticket and sits inside the courthouse complex, so expect security screening. Arrive 20 to 30 minutes early.
- Trains to Lisieux leave from Paris Saint-Lazare. Direct trains take about 1 hour 40 minutes.
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