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
AffiliationCatholic Church
ProvinceArchdiocese of Paris
RegionÎle-de-France
RiteRoman Rite
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusSunday - 9:45 Tridentine Mass
Thursday - 18:30 Tridentine Mass
StatusActive
Location
Location2 Place du Louvre, 1e
StateFrance
Geographic coordinates48°51′34″N 2°20′26″E
Architecture
TypeChurch
StyleFrench Gothic
Groundbreaking12th century (12th century)
Completed15th century (15th century)
Direction of façadeWest
Website
www.saintgermainauxerrois.cef.fr

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).

References

  1. Presses Universitaires de France (1864). Revue Archéologique (in French). Paris: Presses Universitaires de France. p. 595. OCLC 220839783.
  2. "Église Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois de Paris » Tous nos horaires". saintgermainlauxerrois.fr. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
  3. "Home page". Notre-Dame de Paris. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
  4. Christ, Yvan (1956). Églises de Paris (in French). Paris: Éditions des Deux Mondes. p. 17. OCLC 1208129.
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