Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois is a church right next to the Louvre. It’s also very similar to the city hall, which is literally right next door.

Let’s visit the church together!

 

discover paris saint germain l auxerrois

 

The church of Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois is a church in Paris, that I often see on my walks in Paris, yet had never visited. You know, one of these places that you see all the time but never actually take the time to explore.

Last Saturday, I was taking photos around the Pont Neuf. When I was done, after sunrise, I made my way to the nearest metro entrance. As I walked towards it, I noticed the church, and thought “Well I’m here, and I have some time, might as well visit!”

Come along on the visit!

 

You can click on any of the part above to go straight to it!

Let’s get started with the first item on the list: Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois location

 

the church of saint germain l'auxerrois in paris first arrondissement

 

Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois Location

The church of Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois is located in the first arrondissement of Paris, near Place Dauphine and the Sainte Chapelle.

 

map of saint germain l auxerrois in paris

 

To reach the church, you can take the metro line 1 to “Louvre-Rivoli” or metro line 7 to “Pont Neuf”.

You can also walk from Châtelet (5 minutes walk), or from Notre-Dame de Paris (15 minutes walk)

 

Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois Facts

What best way to learn more about a place and its history than facts? I’ve gathered for you a few interesting facts about Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois that you can find below:

  • the original church was founded in the 7th century
  • the church you can see today was built in the 15th century, as it was rebuilt several times over the years
  • because it was so close to the Palace of the Louvre, Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois was the church of the French Kings
  • on August 23rd 1572, the bell rang and thus marked the start of the Saint Bartholomew’s Massacre
  • the french writer & actor Molière got married in Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois

 

saint-germain-l-auxerrois-history

By Édouard Baldus — New York Public Library, Public Domain

 

Exploring the church

Just like most of the church in France, Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois is free to visit.

Even before actually getting inside the church, I was impressed by the entrance itself. A big arch, with many fine sculptures all over it.

arches of the entrance of saint germain l'auxerrois

 

The covered passage in front of the church is beautiful. If you look up, you’ll see the beautiful architecture. Take the time to look at the details of the statues and sculptures. It truly reflects Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois architectural style: gothic.

 

 

Once you step inside the church, you’ll see fine stained glass windows on both sides of the main hall. I remember feeling amazed when my glaze fell upon the artwork; such fine details!

 

stained glass window of saint germain l'auxerrois

 

 

And of course, the main part of the church is absolutely stunning. The nave is sumptuous, with the high ceiling and the tall stained glass windows high above the ground, letting the light shine through and illuminate the church.

 

ceiling of saint germain l'auxerrois in paris

 

If you turn around, and look right above the entrance, you’ll see a massive pipe organ.

 

the pipe organ in saint germain l'auxerrois

 

Here are a few more photos of Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois to finish this visit:

 

ceiling above the nave in saint germain l'auxerrois

 

 

The City Hall

Right next door to the church of Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois is the City Hall of the 1st Arrondissement of Paris.

As you can see on the photo below, it looks extremely similar to the church. And indeed, the city hall was built in 1859 by architect Jacques-Ignace Hittorff, who designed the city hall to complement the church.

Passersby often have no idea that this building is actually the City Hall (and frankly I had no idea either before looking it up!)

 

city hall of paris first arrondissement

 

The city hall of the 1st arrondissement is connected to the church of Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois; it’s connected by a tall tower, the Beffroi, that you can see on the right side of the image below.

 

city hall of paris first arrondissement and the beffroi

 

The Beffroi

Right after the city hall was built, a new construction was planned: the Beffroi of Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois. This tall tower of 38 meters (125 feet) was built for the sole purpose of adding to the symmetry of the 2 buildings (church and city hall).

 

the beffroi next to saint germain l'auxerrois

 

the beffroi in paris first arrondissement

 

 

What To Visit Next?

After visiting the church of Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois, there are several other places you could check out.
The 3 that I recommend are:

These 3 locations are the perfect follow-up to your stroll, because they are also located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, and a 10 minutes walk is all it will take to reach them.

 

the nave of saint germain l'auxerrois

 

If you want other ideas of places to visit in Paris, you could also check out these:

 

I hope you enjoyed this guide about a less-famous side of Paris. Did you already visit this beautiful place? Or did you just learn about it? Either way, let me know in the comments below!

If you plan to visit this church, make sure to tag your Instagram photos with #kevmrc so that we can all see them!