The Church of St. Herman in the meadows, as translated from the French of Saint-Germain-de-Pres, the oldest in Paris. Already in the times of the Roman legions in the first century, there was a Christian Church. Later, in the era of the Merovingians, there appeared the Abbey, from which today only the Church.

The emergence of the Abbey is associated with the name of the king of francs Childebert I. He brought from Spain a priceless relic, the tunic of deacon Zaragoza St. Vincent, martyred under Roman Emperor Diocletian. The king ordered to kill the robe to the gate of the city, but the Bishop of Paris Herman advised the king to establish a monastery to keep the relic. The name of those buried in the Bishop and was assigned to the Abbey in 576 year.

Childebert I found a resting place also in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Besides him, there were still buried three kings of the dynasty of the Merovingians – Chilperic I, Fredegonde and Chlotar II. In those ancient times, therefore, the Abbey became the forerunner of Saint-Denis - the first Royal necropolis of the future of France.

In 885 the Abbey was completely looted and burned by the Vikings who took to the martial Drakkar on the Seine to Paris. The current Church began to be built in the XI century, three times it was rebuilt. As a result, in her quaint combines Romanesque and Gothic styles.

In the years of the French revolution in Saint-Germain-des-Prés is a prison, there were executed more than two hundred priests. Then the temple was adapted for storage of ammonium nitrate required in the manufacture of gunpowder. Then the Abbey together with a rich library was destroyed by fire. In the XIX century restored building was returned to the Church.

Today the Royal tombs of Saint-Germain-des-Prés moved to Saint-Denis. In the old Church remained the only relic of Royal rank – here lies the heart of the great French philosopher and mathematician rené Descartes. Scientist-Catholic died in exile in Sweden, and was buried in this Protestant country at the cemetery for unbaptized. Upakov heart of the scientist among the old stones, France paid tribute to his great son.