History Files
 

Supporting the History Files

Contributed: £229

Target: £400

2023
Totals slider
2023

The History Files still needs your help. As a non-profit site, it is only able to support such a vast and ever-growing collection of information with your help, and this year your help is needed more than ever. Please make a donation so that we can continue to provide highly detailed historical research on a fully secure site. Your help really is appreciated.

 

 

Churches of France

Gallery: Churches of Paris

by Peter Kessler, 26 October 2009

1e Arrondissement Part 1: St-Germain l'Auxerrois

Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois, Paris

Église de Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois (the Church of St Germain of [the province of] Auxerrois, in Burgundy) is situated opposite the palace of the Louvre, north-west of the Ile de Citie. Founded in the seventh century, it was considered to be the church of the kings of France. The current building was erected in the twelfth century. Subsequent centuries saw many alterations made to the building, resulting in a mixture of Roman, Gothic, and Renaissance styles.

Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois, Paris

Seen here in 1858 during the reconstruction of the district, the church was without the tall tower which was built subsequently. During the Wars of Religion, it was the bell in the smaller tower (behind the nave), named 'Marie', which sounded on the night of 23 August 1572, marking the beginning of the St Bartholomew's Day Massacre. Thousands of Protestant Huguenots, who visited the city for the wedding of Henry of Navarre, were killed by the Parisian mob.

 

 

     
Images and text copyright © all contributors mentioned on this page. An original feature for the History Files.