Saint Germain l'Auxerrois

At the foot of the Lourve is the curiously horizontal facade of Saint Germain which consists of a clearly later building that nonetheless has a rose window and an older rose windowed building framing a lovely bell tower all connected with space. Though I'd never heard of the church (it's not included on lists of "gems of Parisian churches" or whathaveyou) I was intrigued and wanted to stop in. We did, easing around a baptism, to see the Lourve Palace's church.

at sunset

inaccessible to the public that day

the 12th century Romanesque bell tower with its Gothic facelift. This was not the bell tower that tolled signalling the beginning of the St. Bartholomew's Massacre.

hi Saint Denis, Bishop of Paris

delightfully intricately carved boss-this is of the Last Supper and you can actually identify apostles

side chapel

remnant of the original church decoration

strong 13th century nave

apparently there're 78m of stained glass

bright summer's day

15th century expansion

looking across the 18th century grille

the almost criminally underlit and hidden 15th century Flemish triptych that nevertheless takes your breath away

above the altar

the older chapels at the south side are very unlit-I quite enjoyed the sharp beam of light forcing its way through a missing pane

the rather impressive organ originally ordered by Louis XVI for Sainte Chapelle-so impressive you don't mind that it hides the rose window!