The Church of Saint Germain l'auxerrois is situated in the heart of Paris, near the East wing of the Louvre. She called the name of St German of Auxerre, Bishop of the Gallo-Roman era, one of the most revered saints in France.

The very first Church that stood on this spot was destroyed during the great siege of Paris by the Vikings in 885-886. However, the Foundation kept it in the XI century new construction started. In the XII century the building underwent major restructuring – from this time begins the story of today's Church. West portal was built in the 1220-1230, choirs and chapel of the virgin Mary was built in the XIV century, the transept and another chapel in the sixteenth. Around 1580 the centuries-long reconstruction of the building was completed. Stone statues at the gates and the gates were restored in the nineteenth century.

This is why the Church represents an impressive mix of styles: the base of the bell tower is Romanesque, the choir and the Central portal is early Gothic, West portal and the Central nave is in flamboyant Gothic style, side portal – Renaissance. It is believed that this is one of the most beautiful buildings of Paris.

Inside you can see the pulpit and pews of the middle of XVII century, and the magnificent stained-XVI century.

The Church was the parish for the Valois dynasty in the days when the Louvre was a Royal Palace. Laid on it and a very unusual mission: here lies most of the painters and sculptors adorned the Louvre.

In the history of the Church is tragic date: 24 August 1572 from the bell tower of Saint-Germain-l'auxerrois ringing bells was the signal for the extermination of the Huguenots invited to the wedding of Henry of Navarre with Marguerite de Valois. Bell ringing has become a sign of the beginning of the St. Bartholomew's day massacre, which killed up to 30 thousand people.

During the revolution the Church was pillaged, the building was used as a food warehouse and a police station. In 1802 the Church was restored, but in 1831, during the riots, again polluted. In 1837 the Church was opened again, this time permanently.