Autour du Louvre,St Germain L'Ax, The facade in english
The facade of the church of Saint-Germain d’Auxerrois
I’m going present the facade of the church of Saint-Germain d’Auxerrois, but first I want to say a few words concerning its history.
This church was the first sanctuary during the merovingian period (7th century) and housed the relics of the bishop Saint Germain d’Auxerre. At the beginning it was just a little chapel which was destroyed by the Normands, but it was reconstructed in 12tn century in the romanesque style.
In the 14th century this church became the parish of kings of France; so it was the church of the Louvre which was still a royal place.
The saddest moment in the church's history was on the 24th of August 1572, the evening of the St. Bartholomew Massacre. The bell sounded the beginning of the assassination of thousands of Protestants by the Catholics.
The church has many, many restorations done on it; was altered many times during several centuries and that’s the reason why its architecture is of a great variety and diversity:
· The lower part of the magnificient bell tower dates back to the romanesque style.
· Some windows date from the period of Renaissance.
· The porch is the most important element of the fasade; it’s an example of the late gothic style (15th century). It is the only porch in late gothic style in Paris and it was constructed by Jean Gaussel.
The fasade rises in 3 levels of elevation and is flanked by 2 smaller towers.
- As you’ve already realised, we see 5 pointed arches crowned by crockets on the first level (3 bigger ones decorate the main entrance into the church, the main portal, and 2 smaller ones which lead to the aisles on both sides of the main nave).
There are 19th century-statues betwenn the portals which are crowned by a balustrade.
- On the 2nd level, we see a rose window, an example of the late gothic style.
- The 3rd level depicts a round stained glass window with trefoiled window tacery.
If we have a look at the main portal dating from the 13th century we realise that nothing is represented on the tympanum. It was destroyed in the 18th century and depicted the Doomsday. The central pier and its statue of Saint Germain d’Auxerre were mutilated in the 19th century. Now we see a statue of Virgin Mary. The recessed columns date back to the 13th century.
As far as the vault is concerned it is a cross ribbed vault embellished with liernes, tiercerons and keystones.
Inspite of its different periods of construction and its mixture of several styles, the church is in accordance with harmony.