Saint-Paul Church
Saint-Paul Saint-Louis Church was built in the 16th century in the historic Marais district.
Originally dedicated to Saint Louis, King Louis IX, it was also dedicated to Saint Paul the Hermit in 1802, in memory of the former Church of Saint-Paul.
The small Chapel of Saint-Paul-des-Champs, built in the 7th century, served the inhabitants of the small village that had grown up on this enclave on the Right Bank.
Having become too small to serve a rapidly growing population, this chapel was replaced by a large parish church in 1125.
The Church of Saint-Paul was the parish church for the district that had developed around the Hôtel Saint-Pol, the residence of King Charles V.
Remains of this church, destroyed during the French Revolution, are still visible at the intersection of Rue Saint-Paul and Rue Neuve-Saint-Pierre.
Saint-Paul Saint-Louis Church built by the Jesuits
Saint-Paul Saint-Louis Church stands near a large section of the rampart built by King Philip Augustus at the end of the 12th century.
These fortifications protected Paris until the second half of the 14th century, when Charles V had a new rampart built to protect the houses that had sprung up outside the old city limits.
In 1533, Francis I ordered the demolition of this second rampart to free up space. Peace indeed reigned in Europe, and Paris no longer needed fortifications!
The Hôtel de Rochepot was built on one of the newly available plots of land on Rue Saint-Antoine, a street that led to the Porte Saint-Antoine and the Bastille Fortress.
In 1580, the Jesuits acquired the mansion and built a church dedicated to Saint Louis.
The mansion and church having become too small, Louis XIII granted them a plot of land adjoining the wall of the old Philippe-Auguste city wall.
Thus, on March 16, 1627, the king laid the first stone of the Church of Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis. The Church of Saint-Louis was consecrated on Ascension Day, May 9, 1641. Cardinal Richelieu presided over the first Mass, in the presence of the king, his court, and fifteen bishops.
Baroque architecture
The architecture and decoration of the Church of Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis draw heavily on the Church of the Gesù, a harmonious blend of French and Italian Baroque styles.
Its magnificent facade blends Gothic and Dutch elements that contribute to its unique character.
Designed with imposing proportions, the church was specifically built for preaching, as evidenced by its spacious interior.
Over the years, it indeed hosted numerous renowned preachers until the dissolution of the Jesuit order in 1762.
The single nave offers ample seating capacity, allowing for large congregations, while the wide opening of the apse lets in natural light, creating a serene and luminous atmosphere.
Saint-Paul Saint-Louis Church’s treasures
Saint-Paul Saint-Louis Church boasts a rich collection of religious art from the post-French Revolution period.
Among its treasures are exceptional paintings such as Delacroix‘s “Christ in Agony in the Garden of Olives” and Jacques de Létin’s “The Death of Saint Louis,” as well as sculptures, such as Germain Pilon’s “Our Lady of Sorrows.”
Its treasures include a Crucifixion of Christ from the chapel of the Bastille prison, three impressive organs, including one built by Martin in 1871 and a 19th-century choir organ by Krischer.
The grand organ, built by Buffet in 1867, is a listed historical monument.
Finally, the shell-shaped baptismal font was a gift from Victor Hugo for the wedding of his daughter Léopoldine in 1843.
Directions: 4th district – 99 Rue Saint-Antoine
Metro: Saint-Paul on Line 1
Coordinates: Lat 48.854854 – Long 2.361618
