It seems like Paris has not much to offer, besides the Eiffel tower and romantic dinners. But, somewhere close to the Seine river, hidden between the buildings, a strange shape rises from the ground, that looks like an UFO has just landed on Earth.
Although it may not seem anything like a cathedral, that’s exactly what it is: Cathedral of Créteil extension. The architecture of the building is actually, based on the classical arrangement of a religious site. The dome pointing towards the sky, replicates the footprint of the original cathedral.
In 2009, a bishop and the Chantiers du Cardinal, decided to start the ambitious project, in order to expand the famous cathedral of Notre-Dame de Créteil. However, they weren’t going to follow the same architectural pattern as other cathedrals; quite the opposite. The creator of this unique design is Charles-Gustave Stoskoph. It seems, that the main inspiration for this building came from the ’70s, a time when “the theology of blending-in
prevailed.”
During day time, the window located at the junction of the hulls offers a colored light into the sanctuary. After the sun sets, it is illuminated from the inside and creates a reflection of The Christian Cross.
Although quite unusual and unique, the new extension of the Cathedral of Créteil is gaining popularity among tourists,who wish to take a detour from an usual sightseeing route.