Cathedral of Créteil Extension: UFO or Just Innovation?
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.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Créteil, 2 rue Pasteur-Vallery-Radot, 94000 Créteil, France
- Coordinates
- 48.7897, 2.44427
- Access
- The cathedral is at 2 rue Pasteur-Vallery-Radot, near Créteil-Université on Metro line 8. It is open for services and attended welcome periods; guided architectural visits are offered on selected dates. The diocesan pages conflict on weekday reception hours, and some weekend shifts may be unstaffed. Call 01 45 17 24 29 on the preceding Thursday before travelling.
- Admission
- The current Explore Paris listing prices the guided cathedral visit at €5 per person. Free access may be available at separately announced events; check dates before travelling.
- Time needed
- The guided visit lasts about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.
- Best season
- No seasonal preference is published. Visit during a service or confirmed staffed-reception period; the diocese asks visitors to call ahead because schedules can vary.
- Opening hours
- There is no consistent published daily visitor schedule. One diocesan page lists reception weekdays 10:00–16:00 and weekends/holidays 15:00–18:00; another says weekdays 10:00–18:00 and weekends 15:00–18:00, warning some shifts may be unstaffed. Call 01 45 17 24 29 on the preceding Thursday. Guided visits have separate selected dates.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-26
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-21
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