"A woman is more beautiful than the world in which I live, and so I close my eyes." - French Quote
If I told you I saw the ghost of Frédéric Chopin would you believe me? If I told you I walked in Napoleon's army would you believe me, still? Well to answer those scandalous questions one must first visit L'église de la Madeleine in the 8th arrondissement of Paris.
L'église de la Madeleine aka La Madeleine is a Catholic Church founded by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1807. Earlier versions date back to the 1600's, however never completed until Napoleon united all of France.
In 1849, decades after the fall of Napoleon, Frédéric Chopin, in his dying days, requested Mozart's Requiem be sung for his funeral here. A glorious event attended by thousands, overflowed past the giant columns and onto the streets of Paris, Chopin later buried at Cimetière du Père Lachaise. This, after his heart was removed and returned to his native Poland. I guess as the top composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic era you get whatever you want, right?! In life and in death. Le sigh
My bed & breakfast was literally a stones throw from La Madeleine. I would pass by every morning and pass by every evening. One night I had a strange dream of Chopin so the next morning I curiously entered La Madeleine. Coincidence? Weird? Or was it his ghostly spirit calling me? I was stepping back into time, if that makes any sense. Not as bright as other Catholic Churches I normally enter. Yet, a calmness surrounded me. It was during mass, so I respectfully refrained from taking photos inside. I'll share it for next time!
The exterior is breathtaking, yet seems misplaced. A friend from Germany says it resembles Greek origin. The architectural lines are Neo-Classical Roman. It reminds me of the Pantheon in Roma. The church is dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene. A beautiful oddity.
In the end, I highly recommend a visit to L'église de la Madeleine. Attend mass if you can and feel the spiritual energy from everywhere. To imagine Napoleon stood here - once the center of all of Europe. To imagine Chopin saying his final good bye as the choir sings to Mozart's Requiem. To imagine those that came before me, and those that will come after me. To witness such an architectural oddity in the busiest part of Paris gives me a curious smile... a smile just knowing I was here!
Une femme est plus belle que le monde où je vis, et je ferme les yeux. A woman is more beautiful than the world in which I live, and so I close my eyes. Ahh the beautiful Mary Magdalene... you are so loved. read more