Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois
The Church of Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois is a Roman Catholic church in Paris situated at 2 Place du Louvre. It used to be the parish church for inhabitants of the neighbouring Louvre Palace.
| Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Catholic Church |
| Province | Archdiocese of Paris |
| Region | Île-de-France |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Sunday - 9:45 Tridentine Mass
Thursday - 18:30 Tridentine Mass |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 2 Place du Louvre, 1e |
| State | France |
| Geographic coordinates | 48°51′34″N 2°20′26″E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Church |
| Style | French Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 12th century |
| Completed | 15th century |
| Direction of façade | West |
| Website | |
| www | |
History
Founded in the 7th century, the church was rebuilt many times over several centuries. The existing building was erected mostly in the 15th century, though some portions date to the late 13th century. It now has construction in Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance styles. The most striking exterior feature is the porch, with a rose window and a balustrade above which encircles the whole church, a work of Jean Gaussel (1435–39).[1]
The belfry, which is older than the main building, was built up and completely remodeled by Théodore Ballu between 1858 and 1863.
During the Wars of Religion, its bell, "Marie", sounded on the night of 23 August 1572, marking the beginning of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. Thousands of Huguenots, who were visiting Paris for a royal wedding, were killed by the city's mob. A splendid stained glass still remains in spite of looting during the French Revolution. The north tower was added in 1860 and is opposite the hall of the 1st arrondissement (1859).
Alexandre Boëly was organist at the church from 1840 to 1851.
Today
A Tridentine Mass, also called the Traditional Latin Mass, is celebrated daily in the church. A sung Mass on Sunday evenings is also celebrated, making it one of the few churches in Paris that still celebrates the Tridentine Mass.[2]
Since 1 September 2019, following a serious fire at Notre-Dame, the Cathedral's services have been temporarily transferred to Saint-Germain.[3]
Interior
Among the treasures preserved inside are a 15th-century wooden statue of Saint Germain, a stone carved statue of Saint-Vincent, a stone sculpture of Isabelle of France, a Flemish altarpiece carved from wood and the famous "churchwarden's pew" on which important people sat, made in 1683 by François Le Mercier from drawings by Charles Le Brun.[4]
Notable burials include François de Malherbe (1628), Antoine Coysevox (1720), François Boucher (1770), and Jean-Baptiste Siméon Chardin (1779).
A photograph from the 1850s (before the belfry was built up)
As depicted by Claude Monet in 1867
The organ
References
- Presses Universitaires de France (1864). Revue Archéologique (in French). Paris: Presses Universitaires de France. p. 595. OCLC 220839783.
- "Église Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois de Paris » Tous nos horaires". saintgermainlauxerrois.fr. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
- "Home page". Notre-Dame de Paris. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
- Christ, Yvan (1956). Églises de Paris (in French). Paris: Éditions des Deux Mondes. p. 17. OCLC 1208129.
External links
- Website (in French)
Media related to Église Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois de Paris at Wikimedia Commons