Which buildings in Paris influenced Christopher Wren’s architectural ideas?

During his 1665 visit to Paris, Christopher Wren sought to immerse himself in the European tradition of classicism, which significantly influenced his architectural development. Key buildings and projects he observed in the French capital included:

• The Louvre Palace: Wren had the opportunity to study the designs for the palace's east front, which were being created by the renowned sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini.1
• The Palace of Versailles: The ongoing remodeling of this site provided Wren with exposure to grand-scale architectural planning, which later informed his own proposals for rebuilding London after the Great Fire.1
• Domed Churches: Wren studied the domed architecture of the Val-de-Grâce and the Sorbonne, which contributed to his evolving ideas for the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral.1
• Châteaux: He also examined a variety of châteaux located in the vicinity of Paris.1

Additionally, while not a direct influence on his initial 1665 trip, the Hôtel des Invalides (1671–76) later served as a conceptual prototype for Wren’s design of the Royal Hospital at Chelsea.2