Eglise Saint-Eustache Church
The Eglise Saint-Eustache is a
church in the first of Paris’ twenty
arrondissements municipaux
administrative districts. Its
construction took a hundred years
from 1532 to 1632. The church is
named after Roman general Saint
Eustace who was burned for
converting to Christianity. The
beautiful piece
of gothic architecture can be
found at the entrance of the Les
Halles, which are the ancient
markets of Paris City popular for
all kinds of fresh produce. It is
where rue Montorgueil begins.
The church, designed by Italian
architect Domenica da Cortona, is
draped with details influenced by
the Renaissance style. It is a
little over a hundred meters in
length, and its interior vaulting is
over thirty meters high. Louis XIV
received communion in the majestic
Eglise Saint-Eustache. It was also
the church Mozart chose for the
funeral of his mother. Many popular
and powerful people were baptized in
the beautiful sanctuary.
They include Moliere, Richelieu
and Madame Pompadour, formerly known
as Jeanne-Antoinette
Poisson. The church was also
where Moliere was married two
decades after his baptism. During
the French Revolution, Eglise
Saint-Eustache was looted and
desecrated. Fortunately, some of
Rubens’ beautiful paintings still
remain. Outside the church, to the
south, stands a Henri de Miller’s
L'écoute sculpture. |
