The Church of the Holy Spirit is located at 186 Avenue Daumesnil, in the 12th arrondissement of the capital. Its construction was decided in 1928 as part of the "Grands sites du Cardinal Verdier", a series of projects initiated by the archbishop of Paris to respond to the demographic growth of some neighborhoods devoid of places of worship.
The architectural design was entrusted to Paul Tournon and the work was completed in 1935.
The plans of the building are inspired by the Byzantine churches and especially the Hagia Sophia of Constantinople. The material used is in phase with the canons of the time: the reinforced concrete. The exteriors are however covered with bricks. The specificity of the church is that its square nave is dominated by a dome 22 m in diameter.
Inside, no less than 70 artists were asked to make monumental frescoes (paintings, mosaics in Venetian enamels at the domes). The most notable works are signed Maurice Denis for the painting of the Chapel of the Virgin and Georges Desvallières for the Road of the Cross.
Sculptures (bas-reliefs), stained glass and ironwork complete the decor of the Church of the Holy Spirit. However, at the reception of the works, some specialists judged the openings too few so that the high quality of the frescoes and ornamentations is highlighted, the interior of the building remaining quite dark.
The church, which has access to rue Cannebière, is fully classified since 2016.
Open every day from 7.30am to 8pm. Information on +33 1 45 78 76 56.
