“Where once stood a sanctuary, now stand buildings.” That is the story of Église Saint-Sauveur. This former parish church resided in Paris’s 2nd arrondissement. Today no trace remains.
Église Saint-Sauveur’s history goes back to the early 13th century. It stood at the corner of Rue Saint-Denis and Rue Saint-Sauveur. Imagine this area bustling with Parisians. Visualize a house of worship anchoring community life.
Originally, Église Saint-Sauveur was called the Chapelle de la Tour. This name came from a nearby tower. The tower fell in 1778. Legend says King Louis IX stopped here on his way to the Basilique Saint-Denis.
Around 1250, the chapel became a parish church. It was placed under the protection of Jesus. Thus, it received the name Saint-Sauveur. It remained outside Philippe Auguste’s wall.
Église Saint-Sauveur underwent several changes. It was rebuilt in 1537. Later it was expanded in 1571 and 1622. A lottery funded repairs in 1713. The nave’s vault threatened to collapse. The repairs also beautified the chapel of the Virgin. Nicolas Coypel created the chapel’s cupola-shaped ceiling. Visitors in the 18th century considered it “remarkable”.
By 1787, Église Saint-Sauveur was in poor condition. It was decided to demolish it. The plan was to construct a larger church. Architect Bernard Poyet designed the new church. The main entrance would face Rue Saint-Denis. This reversed the church’s orientation.
Construction began but the French Revolution halted progress. The land was then used to store carts and goods for merchants. Later, it became a bathhouse. In 1800, the government sold Église Saint-Sauveur. It was demolished and replaced with buildings.
Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac was baptized in Église Saint-Sauveur on March 6, 1619. André-Jacques Garnerin, an early balloonist, was also baptized here. Several notable figures were buried within its walls. These included actors and poets. Belleroche, Guillaume Colletet and Gauthier-Garguille were among them. Gros-Guillaume, Guillot-Gorju, Jacques Vergier and Turlupin were also buried here.
Today, Église Saint-Sauveur is gone. It would stand at 2, 2bis and 4 Rue Saint-Sauveur. Its chevet once touched Rue Saint-Denis. Although Église Saint-Sauveur is physically gone it remains a part of Paris’s rich past. It serves as a reminder of the city’s ever-evolving story.