Basilica of Sainte-Clotilde Paris: opening hours, César Franck's organ and how to get there

The basilica of Sainte-Clotilde, in the 7th arrondissement, is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6:30pm, Saturday from 10am to 7:30pm and Sunday from 10am to 6:30pm, with free entry and no booking. Allow 20 to 30 minutes. Built from 1846 to 1857 in the Neo-Gothic style by François-Christian Gau, then Théodore Ballu, it remains an active place of worship. It is famous for its Cavaillé-Coll organ, played by César Franck from 1859 to 1890.

Highlights

The Neo-Gothic apse

The building takes its forms from 13th-century Gothic cathedrals. Its two façade spires rise to 70 metres, and the basilica has been a listed monument since 2015.

The interior

The nave with its slender vaults was consecrated in 1857. Pope Leo XIII raised the church to the rank of minor basilica in 1898, for the 14th centenary of Clovis's baptism.

The Cavaillé-Coll grand organ

Installed in 1859 with 46 stops, the instrument was rebuilt in 2005 by Bernard Dargassies, who brought it to 71 stops. César Franck was its titular organist from 1859 to 1890.

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