Saint Eustache

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* Church Saint Eustache in Paris

The church of St. Eustache was erected during the period 1532 to 1640 Though its construction took more than a century due to religious wars and lack of funds, the edifice is a remarkably harmonious. The name of the inspired architect is unknown.

Saint-Eustache has consecrated by Jean François de Gondi, Archbishop of Paris, on 26 April , 1637.

In 1665, Jean Baptiste Colbert ( Minister of Louis XIV ), the first warden and benefactor of the church, constructed under the facade two chapels decorated by Mignard and Lafosse. Following this work the ground sunk and the 17th century facade had to be demolished. Jean Hardouin Mansart de Jouy designed the next facade. The corner stone was laid on 22 May 1454 by Pierre Louis Moreau Desproux who added a heavy ornamental front, but this work has remained unfinished. At different periods famous architects such as Du Cerceau, Levau and even Baltard designed plans for a facade of St. Eustache.

The revolution closed the church to catholic worship and transformed it into a temple for agriculture. Re-opened in 1795, the church was partly conceded to the Theophilanthropes. The church survived the tormented revolutionary period but was devastated.

The Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary was consecrated by Pope Pius VII on 28 December 1804 during his visit to Paris on the occasion of the coronation of Napoleon the First. In 1844 the organ, originally from St. Germain des Pres caught fire, destroying the pulpit and damaging the three front rows of the nave. Victor Baltard directed the restoration and in 1849 discovered under the whitewashed walls of the seven chapels, 17th century wall paintings which served as models for the renovation of the rest of the church.

In 1871 during the revolt known as "La Commune", numerous projectile hit the edifice and the bell tower of the chapel of the Virgin Mary collapsed. The attics and buttresses were however, repaired, and the bell tower rebuilt. Restorations have been carried out ever since and in 1971 work began specifically in the restoration of the south West tower.

When the well known market "Les Halles" was removed to Rungis on 28 February 1969 the life of the neighbourhood completely changed; the idea of building a cultural center on the market site put the church in a prominent position-evidence of the continuity of faith and spiritual values.

* The Greast Hour of Saint Eustache

A glance at an old plan of Paris shows that St. Eustache was logically built near the walls of Philippe Auguste next to the pre-Christian road leading from Lutece to the hills of Montmartre.

The site of St. Eustache has always been the meeting place of nobility, middle class, tradesmen and the workmen of Paris. The Louvre and the Royal Palace are close by and from the 17th century until the revolution, St. Eustache was known as the Parochial and Royal church.

Major events have marked its history forever. Richelieu as well as Janne Antoinette Poisson, the future Marquees de Pompadour, were baptised in St. Eustache. Louis XIV's Holy Comunioon was celebrated here and it is here that the Duke de la Feuillade and the Admiral de Tourville are buried. Moliere was baptised but could not be buried in the church. The funeral of La Fontaine was celebrated at St. Eustache where Marie Jars de Gournay, Montaigne's "adopted daughter" is buried, as are the writer Voiture, the grammarian Vaugelas, Furetiere, well known for his dealings with the Academy, the Harlequin Dominique, Benserade, Scaramouche and Marivaux.

The voices of famous spokesmen have also been heard under the now historical arched roof of St. Eustache : at Mirateau's funeral, Cerulti and Talleyrand spoke highly of the deceased, and Father Senault said the funeral oration of Anne of Austria and Flechier that of Turenne. When, Massillon delivered his famous sermon on "The chosen few", it is said that the audience, struck with terror, rose like one man when the preacher resounded the ominous warnings of the last judgement.

Numerous professions had their spiritual centre at St. Eustache. All trades of the market were represented : fishmongers and checkers, orange sellers and wholesale egg merchants, corn carrieres, salt scrapers, second hand clothes dealers and the like. In the Chapel of the Virgin Mary the confraternity "Notre Dame de Bon Secours" (Our Lady of Help), founded in 1629 to help the poor and sick of the parish, held their meetings.

Since 1922 the parish has been administrated by a community of priests of the "Oratoire" order. They have thus returned to the district where it was founded by Cardinal de Berule, whose bust can be seen in St. Eustache since it was placed there in 1972.

Sources : All Text is available in Saint Eustache for 50cts/€. If you visit it , its necessary to obtain this for a lot knowledge and more comprehension.

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How Visit ?

The best way is the Metro or RER ( Subway ). The Station is 'Chatelet les Halles' in the center of Paris ( near of Center Pompidou ). Saint Eustache opening EVERY DAY with normal hour ( Open at 9h30/9.30 AM and close to 19h / 7 PM ).