17.4.14

Sainte Elisabeth de Hongrie Church


The Sainte Elisabeth de Hongrie Church, built 1628-46, was once part of a Franciscan convent. Elisabeth was a 13th century Hungarian princess who supported the Franciscan movement, died young, became a symbol of Christian charity and was canonized only a few years after her death.

On the below plan from 1739 you can see the convent and the church placed between the priory Saint-Martin-des-Champs (Saint Martin in the Fields) – now the National Conservatory for Arts and Crafts and the “Arts-et-Métiers” Museum (see previous posts here and here) and the The Temple (see previous posts here).

The Revolution and later the Haussmannian reshaping of Paris has now left us with just the church.


Most of the interior, including the stained glass windows and the organ are from the 19th century. The church had to be redecorated after it had been used as a warehouse during the first revolutionary years. Around the ambulatory you can find nice wooden 17th century bas-reliefs, brought there from the Saint Vaast Abbey in northern France. 








There is an indirect link to the Knight Templars who occupied The Temple until the order was brutally dissolved early 14th century. The Sainte Elisabeth Church is today the church of the Knights of the Order of Malta, somehow indirectly the heirs of the Knight Templars. We can see their banners in the church.  




8 comments:

martinealison said...

Bonjour cher Peter,

Je suis toujours émerveillée lorsque je pénètre dans un église par son architecture imposante et splendide.
Les photos que tu nous montres sont superbes et fascinantes.
Grâce à toi je découvre des beautés.
Je te fais de gros bisous et te souhaite de joyeuses fêtes pascales.

claude said...

Une découverte pour moi et pourtant je n'habitais pas loin, mais nous nous allions à la messe plus près, dans l'Eglise Saint Joseph.
Très bel intérieur.
Ils sont souvent bien fascinants.

Jeanie said...

This is lovely -- I'm so glad it survived the Baron!

Studio at the Farm said...

Exquisite church, almost simple compared to the large cathedrals. Than k you for your photos and descriptions, Peter!

Cergie said...

Le hasard n'existe pas, cependant aujourd'hui même j'ai appris le miracle des roses de Sainte Élisabeth de Hongrie grâce à Tilia...

http://echos-de-mon-grenier.blogspot.com/2014/04/miracle.html

Elle est bien belle cette église que tu nous fais découvrir, trapue, claire et avec un bel organe du 19ème...

Alain said...

Sainte Elizabeth de Hongrie, c'est le miracle de la démultiplication des pains ?

Thérèse said...

L'exterieur n'attire pas. Par contre l'interieur est tres beau.

Mona said...

Beautiful Pictures as always! Stained Glass art is so fascinating. There have been so many unsung artists who shaped those buildings!

Wish you a Very Happy Birthday Peter and also Happy Easter!