Looking for a hotel near Eglise Saint-Paul, in Paris’ Le Marais district? Book a premium and luxury hotel which will give you all the comfort and wellness you need to make the most of your stay in the heart of the capital. Just a few minutes’ walk from Eglise Saint-Paul, you will have plenty of time to visit this fascinating place of worship and explore Le Marais with its numerous treasures and hidden corners.

Discover Eglise Saint-Paul and its fascinating architecture

The construction of this unique church which bears the mark of the Jesuits, began in 1627 on the order of King Louis XIII. The first mass was held by Cardinal Richelieu in 1641 in the presence of the royal family. This says a lot about the importance of this church which was for a long time one of the capital’s most important places of worship.

Eglise Saint-Paul is the work of three men: Etienne Martellange, who drew up the plans and led the work, François Derand, who was in charge of the façade and the dome, and Charles Turmel, who was responsible for the interior décor. With its shape allowing light to enter through the top and the paintings by Paul de Lapparent, the dome over the church has a distinctive architectural character, the first creation of this type in France and still one of the few to exist today. This type of dome became the architectural mark of Jesuit churches. This dome, reminiscent of the one in Florence, is also testimony to the Italian influence in the high Renaissance period. Three statues can also be seen on the façade. Saint Aure and Saint Catherine are on the second level while Saint Louis is on the third level. You can also admire the wonderful clock face from Saint-Paul-des-Champs church which was destroyed in 1799.

As you enter this place of worship, you will notice many decorative items with an abundance of gold, paintings and statues adorning this church.

Many traces of history within Eglise Saint-Paul

The hearts of Louis XIII and Louis XIV were kept in this royal church until the Revolution. Although the revolutionaries did not touch the crypt—which is not open to the public—it is said that at this time the hearts of the two kings were stolen and used to make red paint.

Yet, historical fact shows that under the Revolution, Eglise Saint-Paul became a book depository and was renamed the ‘Temple of Reason’. It was only under the Concordat of 1801 that the building was given to the Church.

In 1843, Victor Hugo, who lived just a few metres away on Place des Vosges, married his wife Léopoldine at Eglise Saint-Paul. To celebrate and honour this event, he gave the church two fonts which are still present at this site.

It is a historic relic no doubt more surprising than any other as it is so rare to find something like this in a church. You will also notice graffiti from May 1871, at the end of the Paris Commune, which reads ‘La République Française ou la mort’ [The French Republic or death].

By choosing a hotel near Eglise Saint-Paul in Le Marais, you can be sure to make the most of this district which has always held a great importance in the history and the appeal of Paris.