Saint Paul by fishers

Saint Paul

This is my new favourite church in Paris. I only discovered it last week, but it's very close to where I live so I went back today. This is l'église Saint Paul in the Marais quarter of Paris. It was consecrated in 1641 and built by the Jesuits, who also built a college next to it. It's had a very illustrious history. As it's only about a ten minute walk from Bastille (where the French Revolution got really messy), it's a minor miracle it survived, in my opinion. The first stone was laid by Louis XIII, and the whole building is a mixture of Italian, French and Dutch architecture. You can learn more about its very complicated history here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis

The best part for me - it's almost untouched by tourists. There were maybe ten of us in there, and no signs begging for our money every ten paces (as there is in the Notre Dame and the Sacre-Coeur, which rather ruins the ambience and hardly motivates me to donate anything much). And I love the inside with its high domes. - Lucy
A lovely capture.
November 2nd, 2013  
What a great find for you. looks very beautiful.
November 2nd, 2013  
Great collage!
November 2nd, 2013  
A great collage of beautiful pic.`s of this wonderful church. Love to see you pic.`s as the reminds me of the photographs my parents made on her visits to Paris in the 1960 th holidays .
November 2nd, 2013  
Amazing. love the fact that you could get the front of the church in full.
Lovely clock focus
November 2nd, 2013  
what a beautiful building
November 2nd, 2013  
Amazing! I see why its your favorite, great collage
November 2nd, 2013  
Clever presentation, over-view, interior and decorative detail. Your descriptions are so informative too.
November 3rd, 2013  
Great collage. It is so great when you come across something hidden like this
November 3rd, 2013  
Lee
A Hidden gem, good collage.
November 3rd, 2013  
@thresheg Thanks Graham - Lucy
November 3rd, 2013  
@bruni Thanks Bruni, yes it is very pretty - Lucy
November 3rd, 2013  
@carys Thanks Carys - Lucy
November 3rd, 2013  
@pyrrhula Thanks Ferry. Wow, Paris must have changed a bit since the 50s! It must be interesting to see the differences, and the things that have stayed the same. If there are any shots in particular that your parents took, maybe I could go to some of those places and take a similar shot? Let me know anyway, it could be good fun! - Lucy
November 3rd, 2013  
@lizbrouwer Thank you Elize. Yes, I was surprised I could get the whole thing in but the road outside it is quite wide so it is possible. Makes a nice change! - Lucy
November 3rd, 2013  
@pixiemac Thanks Sarah, it certainly is - Lucy
November 3rd, 2013  
@colie Thanks Nichole, it's my favourite so far but there are plenty more to go at! - Lucy
November 3rd, 2013  
@tonydebont Thank you Tony, glad you like them - Lucy
November 3rd, 2013  
@bkbinthecity Thanks Brian. Yes it is, it makes me feel less like a tourist and more like a local! - Lucy
November 3rd, 2013  
@gamelee Thanks Lee - Lucy
November 3rd, 2013  
Nia
The inside intrigues me, what are the light cloud-like things?
November 3rd, 2013  
This is very beautiful for sure!!! I never thought about it before, but I suppose some of the very famous monuments and churches, and such must be made rather unpleasant to visit due to the huge amount of tourists!
we don't really have great historic building here... so I've never experienced anything like that!
November 3rd, 2013  
Bob
A very nice find. You captured it nicely in this collage.
November 3rd, 2013  
Interesting collage
November 3rd, 2013  
Lovely collage Lucy - good to see different aspects of this beautiful church.
November 3rd, 2013  
@sianipops I have honestly no idea! They're certainly a modern addition. I think of them as clouds - Lucy
November 5th, 2013  
@monkeykid That's interesting Therese. Yes, here a lot of the beautiful places are ruined by tourists! - Lucy
November 5th, 2013  
@bobhuegel Thanks Bob - Lucy
November 5th, 2013  
@purplehaze12 Thanks Hazel - Lucy
November 5th, 2013  
@dolphin Thank you Molly - Lucy
November 5th, 2013  
Beautiful church.
November 18th, 2013  
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