Notre Dame de France
An extraordinary church bombed out in the 1940s
Location: 5 Leicester Place, Leicester Square, WC2H 7BX
Description: This extraordinary church was bombed out in the 1940s and almost entirely rebuilt in 1955. With murals depicting an energetic 'annunciation' - care of Jean Cocteau...this really is a special place.
Once he had finished his task, Jean Cocteau was sad to leave : I am sorry to go, as if the wall of the chapel had drawn me into another world.
He went on to comment :
I shall never forget that wide open heart of Notre Dame de France, and the place you allowed me to take within it.
Jean Cocteau wished to be buried in a chapel the chapel of St Blaise of the Simple Ones, at Milly la Fort, near Fontainebleau. He died on 11th October 1963.
Is there a secret message in the mural?
It became a church in 1865 after the church bought the building built as a panorama, a forerunner of the cinema, hence why it's shape is virtually circular.
Tours: Top Ten London Murals
Themes: Church Historical Art
An extraordinary church bombed out in the 1940s |
Ranking This Month: 1234/3062
Pages Hit This Month: 48
Credits: TimeOut - London
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Location Pinpointed:
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