The fourth church to be built on the site of the original small priory, the Eglise Saint-Germain has survived the reign of many kings and seen many reworkings over the centuries.
It was first built by Robert le Pieux in about 1020, then razed by the English troops of the Black Prince in 1346. It was rebuilt during the reign of Charles V (mid-14th century) before collapsing in 1681. Louis XIV then ordered the construction of the third church, which was completed in 1683.
Louis XV found it too small and so decided to build a fourth church, which he oriented towards the château rather than facing west. The first stones were laid in 1766, before the Revolution, but it was not completed until 1829.
It is decorated with various remarkable works, including a bas-relief that is a copy of the Parma 'Deposition' by Benedetto Antelami; the pulpit, originally designed for a chapel at the Château de Versailles; two organs listed by the Monuments Historiques, the large one commissioned by Louis XIV from A. Thierry and the chancel organ designed by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll; frescoes by Amaury Duval; and paintings by Saint-Germain artist Paul Véra.
The church also houses the tomb of James II of England. Deposed from the English throne, he was welcomed by Louis XIV in 1688 and lived in the Château Vieux de Saint-Germain until his death in 1701. Louis-Philippe had the mausoleum built in 1835 and Queen Victoria offered the wall decoration, which displays the coats of arm of English monarchs.
Louis XV found it too small and so decided to build a fourth church, which he oriented towards the château rather than facing west. The first stones were laid in 1766, before the Revolution, but it was not completed until 1829.
It is decorated with various remarkable works, including a bas-relief that is a copy of the Parma 'Deposition' by Benedetto Antelami; the pulpit, originally designed for a chapel at the Château de Versailles; two organs listed by the Monuments Historiques, the large one commissioned by Louis XIV from A. Thierry and the chancel organ designed by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll; frescoes by Amaury Duval; and paintings by Saint-Germain artist Paul Véra.
The church also houses the tomb of James II of England. Deposed from the English throne, he was welcomed by Louis XIV in 1688 and lived in the Château Vieux de Saint-Germain until his death in 1701. Louis-Philippe had the mausoleum built in 1835 and Queen Victoria offered the wall decoration, which displays the coats of arm of English monarchs.
