The 10 churches of the Marais : an architectural, historical and spiritual journey of beauty

Built between 1627 and 1641 by the Jesuits, the church Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis embodies the splendor of Parisian baroqueThe first stone was laid by the Cardinal Richelieu, which celebrated the very first mass there under the reign of Louis XIII. Inspired by the Gesù in Rome, its imposing sculpted façade, its majestic 55-meter dome and its historic clock, which has punctuated the life of the district for centuries, make it an unmissable building.

Witness to the upheavals of history, the church experienced the strong moments of the Revolution. Transformed into Temple of Reason in 1793, she sees Robespierre preach against atheism. A plaque commemorates the execution of five priests massacred in September 1792 for refusing to swear an oath to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy. An almost faded inscription, " République French or death ", engraved on a pillar, still bears witness to the Municipality of Paris and the fire of the dome in 1871.

Its interior houses treasures, including a imposing organ, a monumental sacristy preserving a Crucifixion from the chapel of the prison of the Bastille, and the famous « Christ au Jardin des Oliviers » by Delacroix. Madame de Sévigné, a neighbor of the neighborhood, was baptized there and regularly attended services. Victor Hugo places the marriage of Cosette and Marius in " Les Misérables » and offered two holy water fonts for that of his daughter Léopoldine in 1843.

Built on the remains of the first known basilica on the right bank (387-576), Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais is the oldest parish in Paris outside of the first cathedral on the "Ile de la Cité" Near theHôtel de Ville and the royal palace of the Louvre, it was for a long time the a privileged place of worship for the Parisian elite.

Its history is marked by religious tensions. In the 16th century, it became a stronghold of the Catholic League, where plots were hatched against Henri III, accused of being too close to the Protestants after having chosen the future dauphin Henri IVDuring the Revolution, the church was transformed into Temple of Reason, while the chapel of the Virgin becomes… a ballroom. On March 29, 1918, a shell fired by the Big Bertha fell on the building, killing 92 people and injuring 68.

The interior reveals treasures of architecture and sacred art: a slender Gothic choir, a nave of harmonious proportions and the Chapelle dorée (1628), masterpiece of the Louis XIII style (unfortunately, it can only be visited exceptionally). Its magnificent stained-glass windows, from various periods and styles, illuminate the space. Finally, its great Couperin organ perpetuates a prestigious musical legacy. On the exterior, note its imposing bell tower, one of the tallest in the center of Paris, and three sundials, witnesses of the astronomical knowledge of XVIIth century.

Since 1975, Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem They continue their prayers there, living in the adjoining monastery.

Located a stone's throw from the Georges-Pompidou Center, the Saint-Merry church is a jewel of flamboyant Gothic, often nicknamed " Notre-Dame la petite » because of its architecture close to that of the cathedral. It is also considered one of the "four daughters" of Notre-Dame de Paris.

Its western facade is decorated with fascinating sculptures, including a strange and enigmatic bestiaryThe keystone of the main portal, added during the 19th century restorations, is said to represent the Baphomet (or the devil for some!), a figure surrounded by mysteries and occult interpretations. Many Gargoyles also run along this facade, testifying to Gothic sculptural art.

The church houses a prestigious organ and a remarkable collection of paintings from XVII19th and 20th centuries. Engaged in social history, she participated in the creation of the Restos du Cœur and was for a long time a reception center for migrants, remarried divorcees and the LGBT community, via gay associations like David and Jonathan who still meet there regularly on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 20 p.m. Formerly hosted by the Saint-Merry Pastoral Center, which opened the church to art and debate (and this caused debate in the Church!), the parish has been entrusted to the community of Sant'Egidio since 2021, thus continuing its mission of openness and solidarity.

Note the imposing one hundred meters from Saint-Merry Saint-Jacques tower (54 meters high), the only vestige of the church Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie destroyed in 1793. This sanctuary housed a relic of saint Jacques and was once a famous place of pilgrimage.

Built between 1632 and 1634 by François Mansart, the Temple du Marais is one of first Parisian buildings in classical style, inspired by the Pantheon in Rome with its circular plan, its majestic dome and a rotunda 13,50m in diameter. Originally a Catholic church dedicated to Saint Mary of the Visitation, it housed a Visitandine convent founded by Saint Francis de Sales.

Testimony to its prestigious past, the Nicolas Fouquet's vault, former superintendent of finances of Louis XIV, still rests under the building although there is no indication of his memory. During the Revolution, the church was confiscated and used as a book depository, before being attributed in 1802 by Napoleon I to the Protestant cult, thus becoming the first official place of Protestantism in Paris.

Now a reformed temple, the building is distinguished by its simplicity and sobriety, reflections of Protestant spirituality, which favors preaching and reading the Bible over liturgical ornaments. Today, it remains a unique witness to the religious changes in Paris.

Note that a few hundred meters from the Temple, in the neighborhood Bastille : behind the sober facade of 7 bis rue du Pasteur Wagner is the “ Foyer de l’Ame », a superb Art Nouveau temple Built in 1907 and dedicated to the liberal Protestant movement, its organ is one of the most beautiful in the neighborhood.

Nestled in the heart of the Marais, the church and the cloister of Billettes form a unique heritage complex. The cloister, built in the 15th century, is the only medieval cloister still intact in Paris. With its elegant Gothic galleries, it constitutes an unsuspected haven of peace, today dedicated to contemporary art exhibitions, highlighting young artists. A must-see for calm in this lively district of Parisian LGBT life.

The history of the place is marked by a tragic episode of Parisian anti-Semitism. In 1290, a certain Jonathas de Paris was accused of desecrating a host, an accusation that led to his execution and the confiscation of his property. This event triggered a wave of persecution against the Jewish community and resulted in the construction of a first sanctuary, entrusted to the Hospitaliers de la Charité-Notre-Dame, called “Billet”The order established a convent there, which prospered until the Revolution.

The current church, rebuilt between 1754 and 1758 in a sober classical style, has become one of the rare examples of Lutheran architecture in Paris. Assigned to the Protestant Church since 1809, it still hosts an active community. Its excellent acoustics also make it a popular venue for concerts, particularly on its impressive organ.

Located in the heart of Marais, the church Notre-Dame-des-Blancs-Manteaux find his origins in a convent founded in 1258 by the order of Servites de Marie. Its name comes from the religious dressed in white cloaks who occupied itAt the end of the 16th century, the convent was entrusted to the Benedictines of the Congregation of Saint-Maur, before being abolished during the Revolution.

The current church, rebuilt between 1685 and 1690 in a sober classical style, incorporates elements of old Parisian churches demolished by Baron Haussmann under Napoleon III, notably its façade from the Saint-Éloi-des-Barnabites church. Inside, its vast vaulted nave and Baroque decorations house remarkable works, including a sculpted altarpiece from the XVII1st century and one historic organ designed by François-Henri Clicquot.

During the Revolution, the convent was closed and the church became a food depot, before regaining its religious function under the Empire. Transformed over the centuries, it has preserved vestiges of the monastic past, testifying to the influence of religious orders on medieval and modern Paris.

Note that in the small neighboring street, at 7-9 rue Aubriot is the small chapel Sainte-Marie au Marais of'Mariavite Church of France (resulting from a schism with the Catholic Church of Poland).

Located in the heart of Île Saint-Louis in Paris, the Saint-Louis-en-l'Île church is a jewel of French Baroque architecture. Dedicated to Saint Louis, King of France from 1226 to 1270, it recalls that This sovereign came to pray on this island before leaving on crusade in 1269. The first chapel, named Notre-Dame-en-l’Île, was erected in 1623 to serve the first inhabitants of the island.

Faced with the growing population, the construction of a larger church became necessary. Work began in 1656 under the direction of François Le Vau, brother of the architect Louis Le Vau. After numerous interruptions, the church was consecrated on July 14, 1726. The building is distinguished by its openwork bell tower in the shape of an obelisk, added in 1765 to resist the winds of the Seine. During the French Revolution, the church was deconsecrated and used as a literary repository. It regained its religious vocation in 1805, even welcoming a Mass celebrated by Pope Pius VII this year.

Listed as a historic monument in 1915, the church houses a remarkable organ, installed in 2005 by the postman Bernard Aubertin. It is also renowned for its classical music concert program, making it an essential cultural place in the capital.

The church Saint-Denys-du-Saint-Sacrement current is a notable example of early 19th-century neoclassical architectureBuilt between 1826 and 1835 by the architect Étienne-Hippolyte Godde, it is dedicated to Saint Denis, first bishop of Paris, and to the Benedictine nuns of the Blessed Sacrament who previously occupied the site.

The interior of the church is particularly notable for his Pietà, located in the Sainte-Geneviève chapel (to the right of the entrance). This work, painted by Eugène Delacroix in 1844, is inspired by Rosso Fiorentino and was made in just 17 days. The poet Charles Baudelaire described it as " masterpiece that leaves a deep furrow of melancholy in the mind ».

Furthermore, the church is home to a dynamic parish community which welcomes theone of the houses of the Paris Seminary, thus contributing to the training of future priests and to the animation of parish life

Founded during the reign of Louis XIII, this building saw the Queen Marie de Medici laid the first stone on May 14, 1628. Facing the enclosure of the Temple, she witnessed the detention of Louis XVI and his family in the tower of the Temple after the proclamation of the RépubliqueIts history is thus intertwined with that of the great hours of the French Revolution.

The church has also survived through the ages, welcoming various communities. Between the two wars, a A large Chinese community settled in the neighborhood and still celebrates mass in Chinese today.In 1938, the Archbishop of Paris authorized the holding of meetings of the Knights of the Order of Malta, in memory of their former commandery of TempleThe church remains today a place of celebration for this sovereign order.

Musically, Saint Elizabeth of Hungary is distinguished by its great Suret organ, inaugurated in 1853 and awarded at the 1855 Universal Exhibition. Finally, during the Second World War, the church played a humanitarian role in hiding Jews, thus adding a page of courage to its rich past.

The church Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs current is a architectural masterpiece, mixing Gothic and Renaissance. Its south portal, dated 1581, remains one of the most beautiful examples of Renaissance religious architecture Parisian, despite the disappearance of its statuary during the Revolution.

The church is also distinguished by its monumental high altar of the XVIIᵉ century, the only one still in place in a Parisian church, rising to a height of 12 meters. Its The immense nave, supported by what are called the “hundred columns”, impresses with its excessive proportions. The building is bathed in light thanks to 25 high windows, of which only a few polychrome borders, dating from the 16th and XVIIcenturies, still adorn the stained glass windows.

Since 1992, the animation of the parish has been entrusted to the Emmanuel Community, breathing life into a spiritual and liturgical dynamic. Between remarkable architectural heritage and contemporary fervor, Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs remains an emblematic place of Parisian history and religious life.

The Holy Cross Cathedral of Paris of the Armenians is a discreet building that plays a central role for the Armenian Catholic community of the capitalThe history of this church dates back to 1623, when the financier Claude Charlot undertook to subdivide the district of Temple and had the church of Saint-Jean-Saint-François built as well as an adjoining convent for the Capuchin friars. The latter were then known for their role as volunteer firefighters. The convent chapel, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, was erected in 1624 on the site of an old tennis court.

Between 1828 and 1832, extension work was carried out, and in 1855, the architect Victor Baltard designed a new porch for the church.

In 1970, when the church was closed to worship, Cardinal François Marty entrusted it to the Armenian Catholic community of Paris, which was looking for a parish church. Today, the cathedral is the seat of the eparchy Sainte-Croix-de-Paris Armenians, erected in 1986.

© Julien Dumarais - My Marais Paris