Doesn’t the classical facade of \u00c9glise Sainte-\u00c9lisabeth-de-Hongrie look magnificent? It stands here at 195 rue du Temple. The story of this church is quite amazing. It blends faith, revolution, and art.
\u00c9glise Sainte-\u00c9lisabeth-de-Hongrie began as a chapel. It was part of a monastery. The religious order was the Tiers-Ordre de Saint-Francois. Marie de Medicis laid the first stone in 1628. Construction finished around 1646. Michel Villedo completed the work. He is the one who designed its beautiful facade.
Originally, \u00c9glise Sainte-\u00c9lisabeth-de-Hongrie faced the Temple enclosure. Franciscan nuns lived at the monastery. They dedicated their lives to prayer. These nuns were cloistered. They were known as the Dames de Sainte-\u00c9lisabeth.
During the French Revolution, the nuns were expelled. Their confessor, S\u00e9verin Girault, was arrested. He became a martyr. He died in the Carmes massacre. Later, he was beatified in 1926. The chapel was a storage place for flour. It was called “le Magasin \u00c9lisabeth”. The royal family was imprisoned nearby. They were in the Temple tower.
In 1802, \u00c9glise Sainte-\u00c9lisabeth-de-Hongrie became a parish church. The Temple district needed a church. The original parish church was destroyed. So, \u00c9glise Sainte-\u00c9lisabeth-de-Hongrie took its place.
The church was expanded under the Restauration. Architect Etienne-Hippolyte Godde designed the new parts. A chancel, a deambulatory, and two large chapels were added.
Inside, you can find remarkable art. 100 carved wood panels decorate the walls. They depict biblical scenes. These panels came from Saint-Vaast d’Arras abbey. Jean Alaux painted the cupola. It shows the Glorification of Saint Elisabeth of Hungary.
The church has two organs. The grand organ is on a platform. Marie Antoine Louis Suret built it. It was inaugurated in 1853.
\u00c9glise Sainte-\u00c9lisabeth-de-Hongrie is associated with the Order of Malta. Since 1938, it has been their church in Paris. The Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem are remembered here.
Take a moment to admire the facade. Notice the statues in the niches. Saint Louis and Saint Eug\u00e9nie are below. Saint Elisabeth and Saint Francis of Assisi are above. The Pi\u00e9ta on the tympanum is by Joseph-Michel-Ange Pollet.
\u00c9glise Sainte-\u00c9lisabeth-de-Hongrie stands as a testament to history. It connects faith, art, and the stories of Paris. It’s a place where you can feel the echoes of the past.