Saint Germain l'Oserua

The temple was built and rebuilt since the XII century ^[2] . In its present form, it is a monument of late Gothic architecture , which is notable for the sophistication of architectural forms and an abundance of ornament .

The appearance of the oldest part of the temple - the Romanesque bell tower built in the XII century - was significantly changed during the restoration of the XIX century. The entrance portal and the altar of the temple belong to the XIII century; transept , main nave and portico were built in the 15th century ^[2] . Inside the church is the most famous stained glass rose of the Renaissance.

Inside

The organ was commissioned by Louis XVI for Saint-Chapelle . The church also holds other works of art, including the Flemish altar of a carved tree, which depicts scenes from the life of Christ, statues of saints Germain and Vincent (XV century).

Most of the artists and sculptors who lived in the Louvre during the 16th – 18th centuries are buried here.

Historians claim that until the VII century. this place was occupied by the pagan sanctuary of the era of the reign of the Merovingians . A chapel on the site of the current church probably existed from the 7th century ^[2] . The first church, which replaced the chapel, was built at the beginning of the XII century and consecrated in the name of St. Germain (Herman) . The church was originally called Saint-Germain-le-Rond (Saint-Germain-le-Rond), and then it was renamed Saint-Germain-l'Oserua, that is, Saint Germain of Auxerre (during his lifetime, Saint Germain was a bishop of Auxerre ).

Bartholomew's Night

During Bartholomew’s night (1572), by order of Catherine de Medici, the bells of this church signaled the beginning of the extermination of the Huguenots , who were invited to the wedding of Henry of Navarre and Margarita de Valois . It is generally accepted that they called precisely from the main surviving tower, but this is not so: the small belfry from the south side of the church signaled to the Catholics.

French Revolution

During the French Revolution, the church was sacked. She was used as a food warehouse and a police station was also located there.

July Monarchy

On February 14, 1831, the church was badly damaged as a result of unrest against the Carlists , who believed that Louis Philippe was unlawfully taking the throne. The protests were caused by a service in the church for the repose of the soul of the Duke of Berry, who was killed on the night of February 13-14, 1820 .

During the July monarchy in 1838, the church was restored. As a result of restoration, the appearance of some parts of the temple (especially the bell tower of the XII century) underwent changes ^[2] .

Claude Monet portrayed Saint-Germain l'Oserua in 1867; the picture is stored in the National Gallery of Berlin.

Famous figures of French culture are buried in the church: architects Jacques Germaine Sufflo , Louis Levo , Robert de Cote , Ange Jacques Gabriel , sculptors Antoine Quasevo , Martin Desjardins , brothers Nicolas and Guillaume Cousteau , painters Daniel Dumourier , Francois Boucher , J. B. Chardin , Alexander Francois Deport , poet Mahlerb , scientist Andre Dacier and others.

History and Map