Chapelle Expiatoire / Expiatory Chapel

In January 1793, King Louis XVI was beheaded as a result to the French Revolution. He and Marie-Antoinette were buried at the former Madeleine church (not to be confused with the current Madeleine church) cemetery in Paris.

Fast forward to the restoration of monarchy after Napoleon's reign, the "Expiatory Chapel" was built on the site of the initial Madeleine church to house the remains of the fallen King and Queen.

Fast forward once again now to the 1871 Paris Commune (Revolution part four!), the Communards decided the "Expiatory Chapel" should be demolished! They proceeded to set the place on fire, however, a group of royalists managed to put out the fire and save the place.

You can visit this place in the 8th Arrondissement of Paris, it is surrounded by a very pleasant and quiet little park where locals come sit on a bench or have their daily lunch break.