St. Eustache Paris

Considered the most beautiful church in Paris after NotreDame, St Eustache stands at the edge of Les Halles. Its construction continued over a long period of time. In 1532 the foundation stone was laid, but only in 1637 could the church be said to be complete. Designed by Lemercier, it combines in an original way a Gothic structure with Renaissance decoration. The passage from one style to the other can be followed best of all in the sides and in the apse, which have three orders of windows, tall pilasters and great flying arches, while the rose windows are typical of the Renaissance.

Interior

Its dimensions are imposing: 328 feet long, 144 feet wide and 108 feet high. It has double aisles around the nave, with transept and chancel. The round Renaissance arcades in the nave are divided by bundle pillars, while the vaulting of the nave, chancel and transept is in the Flamboyant Gothic style. A great organ, made in 1844, stands above the entrance, and important concerts are still given in the church. In a chapel in the chancel is the tomb of Colbert, the famous Minister of Finance under Louis XIV: the sepulchre was designed by Le Brun, Coysevox sculpted the statue of Colbert and that of Abundance and Tuby that of Fidelity. Works by Rubens, Luca Giordano and the Sienese Manetti can be found in other chapels.





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