Nestled in the heart of the Latin Quarter, the Sorbonne's Chapelle Sainte-Ursule is an iconic monument, easily seen from the main courtyard or from the outside, but one that few people, even university students, get to visit, blending history, art and spirituality. Built in the 17th century at the instigation of Cardinal de Richelieu, it remains a fascinating testimony toFrench classical architecture.
Founded in 1257 by Robert de Sorbon, the Sorbonne, the country's oldest university, became a major intellectual center of the University of Paris. In the early 17th century, Cardinal de Richelieu, Louis XIII's chief minister and patron of the college, undertook a vast renovation of the building. In 1635, he commissioned architect Jacques Lemercier to design a chapel worthy of the establishment's prestige.
The chapel, completed in 1642 and listed as a Monument Historique since 1887, is a perfect example of French classicism, with a balanced facade inspired by Italian models and an imposing dome, visible from the courtyard of honor, which dominates the premises. Richelieu, keen to leave his mark, decided to build his own white marble tomb here, created by sculptor François Girardon in 1694.
His mausoleum, still visible today, remains a central feature of this jewel of Parisian heritage, as do the monumental paintings of the dome's medallions by Philippe de Champaigne, representing the university's four faculties: arts, sciences, law and medicine, and the unmodified organ by Paul Dallery.
Over the centuries, the chapel has seen many turbulent periods. During the French Revolution, the chapel was disused and vandalized, its works dispersed or destroyed. It gradually fell into disrepair in the 19th century, despite a lengthy reconstruction campaign between 1883 and 1901.
After the Second World War, the chapel became a place of remembrance, paying tribute to high school students and teachers martyred during the Resistance in a converted crypt. Heavily impacted by the storm of 1999, the chapel was closed and its roof and facades repaired until 2008 to stop seepage and limit damage.
Although no longer a regular place of worship and closed to the public for almost 25 years, the Sorbonne chapel occasionally hosts cultural and ceremonial events, including concerts and exhibitions. It can be visited during the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days), and should reopen to the public in a few years' time, thanks to a restoration campaign launched with the help of an American NGO.
Dates and Opening Time
Starts December 30, 2025
Location
Sorbonne Chapel
Place de la Sorbonne
75005 Paris 5
