24 June 2012

Few local churches

Christianity came to French Guiana together with colonisation and is still very present today. The Catholic group is the largest Christian community through the French Guyenese region. Local catholic practices have sometimes mixed with popular beliefs. The number of churches in each village all across the French Guiana reflects the importance of this presence even today. It is striking to observe the various architectural styles and materials that have been used for their construction. Some of these churches have been built (and decorated) by forced work prisoners.
Some of them may be noticed for a particular feature: For instance, the cathedral of Cayenne is the copy of Saint-Jean Baptiste de Grenelle in Paris. At Iracoubo, wooden interior of the church has been so remarkably painted that the church belongs now to the list of Monument historiques...
The few pictures below is just a poor selection of all this rich patrimony that can be seen when travelling through French Guiana.
1-Church in Roura
2-Church of Montsinéry
3-Church of Saint-Georges de l'Oyapock
4-Church of Sinnamary
5-Church of Mana
6-Church of Saint-Laurent du Maroni

7-Cathedral of Cayenne (bell tower)
8-Church of the Royal Island (Ile Royale)
9-Church of Iracoubo
10-Chuch of Regina

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