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. Guided architectural visits are offered on selected dates and must be booked through the official Explore Paris listing; do not assume a daily visitor schedule.
- 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.
- Opening hours
- No regular public visitor hours are published. Free or guided visits are offered on selected dates; check the current booking calendar before setting out.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-26
- Facts checked
- 2026-09-26
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