Notre Dame was still closed for renovation- and we missed both of our appointments to tour St. Chappelle but l’Eglise de Saint Germain l’Auxerrois- a little neighborhood church just a block away from us was open to the public and best of all there were no lines to get in. It was practically deserted.
This gothic gem which sits right behind the Louvre was first built in the 1200’s with some major additions in the 15th and 16th centuries.
The South transept rose window dates from the 1500’s
The whole building is about the size of half a city block and while not quite a massive as say Notre Dame it is still quite awe inspiring.
Luckily the day we visited was quite sunny so the stained glass windows really glowed. I love how the colored light shining through them plays on the pillars surrounding the choir.
Much of the original stained glass was destroyed during the French Revolution and subsequent riots in the 1800’s but a few original windows remain.
This I think is a reproduction window from the late 1800’s.
the Chapel of the Tomb dates from 1505.
The vaulted ceiling draws your eyes upward
The front porch was built in the 1400’s in the Flamboyant Gothic style
MJ Seal .Art 