Can you imagine Paris without the Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés? This church is the oldest in Paris. Its story is woven into the very fabric of the city.
Hello everyone. I am thrilled to share the story of this remarkable church. Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés stands as a testament to faith. It represents art and the enduring power of ideas.
Our story begins in the 6th century. Childebert I son of Clovis ordered a basilica built. He wanted to house a relic from Spain. This relic was the priestly tunic of Saint Vincent. Childebert had acquired it during a war. The basilica was initially named Sainte-Croix-et-Saint-Vincent.
Over time the church’s name changed. It honored Germain. Germain was the Bishop of Paris. He dedicated the church in 558 AD. Later he became a saint. Thus Saint-Germain-des-Prés was named. The term “prés” means fields in French. This was because the church was once located outside of Paris. Today it is hard to imagine Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés as being outside of Paris because of the bustling streets.
The abbey became the burial place of Merovingian kings. Childebert was buried here in 558 AD. Kings after him were also buried here. Germain himself was buried here in 576 AD.
A monastery grew around the church. Benedictine monks expanded the monastery. Saint-Germain-des-Prés was one of 17000 Benedictine monasteries. However the Vikings were a constant threat. They plundered and burned the abbey multiple times in the 9th century. It was rebuilt after each sacking.
The original church is long gone. A new Romanesque building was built in the 11th century. It had thick walls and round arches. Inside were barrel vaults. This church had three towers. There were two at the east end. One stood at the west entrance. Saint-Germain-des-Prés has been altered much since then.
The abbey once controlled much land. This land now comprises the 5th and 6th Arrondissements. The abbey even donated land. This allowed the University of Paris to be built. This created the “Latin Quarter”. Latin was the language of the monks and instruction.
King Philippe-Auguste built a wall around Paris. He ran it through the abbey’s land. This divided its holdings and power. The abbey was left outside the defensive walls.
The French Revolution brought change. The abbey’s lands were confiscated. New streets and buildings were constructed. The quartier of Saint-Germain-des-Prés began.
Very little remains of the Romanesque church. The two eastern towers are gone. Almost every monastery building has disappeared. Flying buttresses were added later. They are contemporary with Notre Dame. The bell chamber was added in the 17th century. The pitched roof came even later. Murals inside the church were painted in the mid-19th century.
Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés has seen many changes. It needed restoration. Major work began in 2011. It included a new stone floor. The organ was overhauled.
Facing Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés is Les Deux Magots. It is a famous cafe. Ernest Hemingway and James Joyce once sat there. Next door is Cafe de Flore. Pablo Picasso and Albert Camus gathered there. Across the boulevard is Brasserie Lipp. Hemingway also frequented it.
Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés stands as a symbol. It represents resilience. It is a beacon of culture. Its story continues to unfold. Thank you for joining me on this journey through time.