The Valley of Grace

Anne of Austria, wife of Louis XIII, vowed to erect a magnificent temple if God blessed her with a son. She got two.

The resulting Eglise du Val-de-Grâce (Church of the Valley of Grace), was erected in 1621 and home to a Benedictine monastery. It is now a military hospital and museum and is one of Paris' most stunning examples of baroque architecture.

The Unveiling of Tour Saint Jacques

The beautiful Saint Jacques Tower has finally been unveiled. Built from 1508 to 1522, the gothic tower is part of the remains of the church Saint-Jacques-la-Boucherie that was demolished in 1797.

The tower has been under scaffolding for years as surveyors investigated the condition of the stone. Unfortunately, cracks were found, but remarkably, the stone dates to the tower's original construction, not from a 19^th-century restoration.

A Return to La Sainte-Chapelle

A detail of the beautiful stonework at La Sainte-Chapelle, the church from Saturday's post.

Also, a detail from the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry by the Limbourg Brothers, showing La Sainte-Chapelle circa 1400. The rose window, seen in the previous post, is shown here on the front of the chapel.

St. Gervais et St. Protais

On the right bank of the Seine, tucked behind the Hôtel de Ville sits the stunning church of St. Gervais et St. Protais. This medieval structure houses the secrets of a great dynasty of French musicians: the organ played by Louis and François Couperin.

The church has been home to the organ since 1653 and was played by the Couperin family for nearly two hundred years.

Stained Glass of La Sainte-Chapelle

Louis IX built La Sainte-Chapelle to house precious relics from the Passion, including Christ's Crown of Thorns he'd bought from Baldwin II in 1239. In 1241, he added a piece of the true cross. During the French Revolution the relics were stolen.

The pious king was later granted sainthood by the Catholic Church.