Located on the left bank of the River Seine, Evry is an ethnically diverse suburb in the south of Paris. It lies at the heart of the Evry Ville Nouvelle, which was created in the 1960s to house the capital’s growing population following the post-war baby boom. In addition to its modern temples and houses of worship, it’s home to leafy parks and a museum of sacred art.
Things to do in Évry
One of Evry’s most striking architectural landmarks is its modern cathedral, which was designed by the Swiss architect Mario Botta. It appears like a truncated cylinder, with an inclined roof topped by trees and an inspiring interior featuring Burgundy oak pews. Marvel at the Carrera marble altar and the bronze statue of Saint Corbinien on the Cross, which was designed by Hugues and France Siptrott.
On the upper floor of the Evry Cathedral is the Museum Paul Delouvrier, which boasts an outstanding collection of sacred and contemporary art from around the globe. Paintings from Seychelles are exhibited alongside religious icons from Ethiopia and works by Gérard Fromanger, Pierre Buraglio and Victor Vasarely.
Opening to worshippers in 1995 is the Grand Mosque of Evry, which was designed by Henri Baudot and stands as the largest mosque in France. On the other side of the town is the Pagode Chùa Khánh Anh Evry, a Buddhist Vietnamese temple covered with glazed tiles that houses a four-metre-high Buddha.
Getting around Évry
Evry is around 35 minutes’ drive from the centre of Paris and 20 minutes from Paris Orly Airport. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is just under an hour away. Trains come and go from the Évry - Courcouronnes station, which connects along the D Line of the Paris metro. Buses travel throughout the town.