Église de Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris — Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Saint-Germain-des-Pres is the oldest church in Paris, with parts of the current building dating back over 1,000 years. It sits at the heart of the Left Bank neighbourhood that bears its name.

The church was founded in 542 AD by King Childebert I, who built a basilica here to house relics brought from Spain. A Benedictine abbey was established on the site and became one of the most important religious centres in medieval France. The church was rebuilt multiple times; the current bell tower dates to around 1000 AD, making it the oldest structure in Paris still in daily use.

During the French Revolution, the abbey was dissolved and the church was used as a saltpetre factory. Much of the medieval complex was destroyed. The church itself survived, though it was badly damaged and not fully restored until the 19th century.

By the mid-20th century, the neighbourhood around the church had become the intellectual centre of Paris. Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir held court at the Cafe de Flore and Les Deux Magots, both just steps from the church. Albert Camus, Boris Vian, and Miles Davis (who recorded in a nearby studio) were all part of the Saint-Germain scene.

The church is free to enter and holds regular concerts that take advantage of its remarkable acoustics.

If you're on a Questo quest through Saint-Germain, the church is a stop where 1,500 years of Parisian history begins with a bell tower that has been standing since before Notre-Dame was even imagined.