A Paris Gem: Saint-Pierre de Montmartre
Every once in a while you find some really great gem in a city that is one of the most visited places on earth.
While I was wandering Paris, taking pictures, I decided I would go up to Montmartre and Sacré Coeur. That church is interesting in its own right, but it is very crowded and to be quite honest, not half as interesting as another church that it dwarfs.
Just to the left of Sacré Coeur (as you see look at it from the front) is the little church of Saint-Pierre de Montmartre. This gem of a find is the third oldest church in Paris behind Notre Dame and Saint-Germain de Prés. But, while the megathrongs of tourists were wondering (a bit blindly) through Sacré Coeur, barely a sole bothered to stop by this intriguing though worn down church teeming with history.
Built over the top of a Roman temple to Mars, the church was constructed by Benedictine nuns who received the appointment from King Louis VI (le Gros) and Queen Alix of Savoy. In 1147, it was consecrated by Pope Eugenius III who was in town to celebrate Easter mass with the likes of Bernard of Clairvaux and Peter the Venerable of Cluny.
The church has several claims to fame. Queen Alix was buried there, though her tomb was destroyed during the French Revolution. St. Ignatius Loyola, St. Francis Xavier and Peter Fabre, pronounced their vows here, creating the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). And the location is near where St. Denis (Dionysius) was said to have lost his head at the command of a Roman governor (and from whence he carried his head down the hill to the site of the present-day Church of St. Denis).
The church is beautiful. Do yourself a favor and avoid the crowds at Sacré Coeur. Do yourself a favor and enjoy a small gem in Paris!
Saint-Pierre de Montmartre
2, Rue du Mont-Cenis (Place du Tertre)
75018 Paris
Métro: Anvers, Abbesses
Funiculaire: Place Suzanne Valadon
No website
Tom
While I was wandering Paris, taking pictures, I decided I would go up to Montmartre and Sacré Coeur. That church is interesting in its own right, but it is very crowded and to be quite honest, not half as interesting as another church that it dwarfs.
Just to the left of Sacré Coeur (as you see look at it from the front) is the little church of Saint-Pierre de Montmartre. This gem of a find is the third oldest church in Paris behind Notre Dame and Saint-Germain de Prés. But, while the megathrongs of tourists were wondering (a bit blindly) through Sacré Coeur, barely a sole bothered to stop by this intriguing though worn down church teeming with history.
Built over the top of a Roman temple to Mars, the church was constructed by Benedictine nuns who received the appointment from King Louis VI (le Gros) and Queen Alix of Savoy. In 1147, it was consecrated by Pope Eugenius III who was in town to celebrate Easter mass with the likes of Bernard of Clairvaux and Peter the Venerable of Cluny.
The church has several claims to fame. Queen Alix was buried there, though her tomb was destroyed during the French Revolution. St. Ignatius Loyola, St. Francis Xavier and Peter Fabre, pronounced their vows here, creating the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). And the location is near where St. Denis (Dionysius) was said to have lost his head at the command of a Roman governor (and from whence he carried his head down the hill to the site of the present-day Church of St. Denis).
The church is beautiful. Do yourself a favor and avoid the crowds at Sacré Coeur. Do yourself a favor and enjoy a small gem in Paris!
Saint-Pierre de Montmartre
2, Rue du Mont-Cenis (Place du Tertre)
75018 Paris
Métro: Anvers, Abbesses
Funiculaire: Place Suzanne Valadon
No website
Tom
posted by Tom - Ubiquity International at 11:08 AM Permalink
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