This is again another dandy monument in my eternal Paris. I have done quite a bit of walking in Paris, and never stop amazing me of its abundance of architecture and historical sights that not only are known but also unknown to most. This is another beauty that needs to be seen more, me think ; glad to have found new pictures in my cd rom vault that should be in my blog for you and me, Therefore, here is my take on the Church Saint Eugéne-Sainte Cécile of Paris !!! Hope you enjoy it as I.
The Church Saint-Eugène-Sainte-Cécile ,commonly called Church Saint-Eugène is located at 6, rue Sainte-Cécile, in the 9éme arrondissement of Paris. A true ode to stained glass, it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful churches in Paris. The church was built between 1854 and 1856 at the request of Napoleon III in memory of his uncle Eugène de Beauharnais in twenty months on the site of the Hôtel des Menus-Plaisirs. On January 10, 1857, Jules Verne married Honorine Viane in this church. In 1952, Canon Bony, parish priest, asked Rome for permission to give the church a second name, that of Saint Cecilia, patron saint of musicians, due to the proximity of the Conservatory of Music and Declamation. Thus, the church, which was originally called Church Saint-Eugène has since the mid-20C borne the dual name of Church Saint Eugene and Sainte Cécile.
The façade is a pastiche of 13C architecture, but the interior is a transposition in metal of the Gothic construction system that corresponds to the Neo-Gothic movement specific to the mid-19C; it is the application of the rationalist construction theories of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in his « Entretiens sur l’architecture » (published in 1858-1872) who saw it as a way to reduce both the cost and the time of construction. Nevertheless, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc strongly opposed Louis-Auguste Boileau over this church, which he considered an “architectural lie” because it used a Gothic structure but with a material other than traditional stone. The Church Saint-Eugène-Sainte-Cécile is in fact the first in Paris with an entirely metallic structure.
The Church Saint Eugéne-Sainte Cécile has no transept and the side chapels alone provide support for the ribbed vaults of the nave and aisles. The church occupies a total area of approximately 1,300 square meters of land. Its main facade extends onto Rue Sainte-Cécile, its side facade onto Rue du Conservatoire. The total length of the church is 50 meters, its total width 27 meters and its total height 25 meters. The average diameter of the cast iron columns is 32 cm and the thickness of the cast iron is 2 cm. The vaults rest on small columns inspired by those of the refectory of Saint-Martin-de-Champs, but more slender thanks to the performance of cast iron. The baptistery is protected by a very beautiful gilded iron grille ,enriched with angels and saints, the baptismal font announces Art Nouveau. The pulpit is contemporary with the creation of the church, and is extremely light and of a design both elegant and severe. The splendid choir of Saint-Eugène makes all the beauty of the church and even gives it a little taste of Sainte-Chapelle. The stained glass window of the apse illustrates the Last Supper (left), the Transfiguration (center) and Jesus in the Garden of Olives (right).
The general ensemble is completed by a large organ case 12 meters high whose facade of great richness is in carved oak. The organ of the gallery was designed for the Universal Exhibition of 1855. It was restored in 1995 and 2005. Four staircases lead to the galleries. A work bench, stalls and confessionals in carved wood complete the interior layout of the church. The walls, columns and vaults are entirely painted, the decor was restored in 1982-1984 , Independently of the stained glass windows, the interior of the church is entirely covered with polychrome paintings which give to the light whose brightness they soften a softness which adds to the religious character of the monument. The church is lit by 48 windows decorated with stained glass of very beautiful work.
The Church Saint Eugéne-Sainte Cécile is said to be biritualistic: the Mass is celebrated both in the Roman Rite of Paul VI and in the 1962 rite called the Tridentine Rite, or even, on very rare occasions, in the pre-1954 rite (before the reform of Pius XII for Holy Week). After the liturgical reforms that followed the Second Vatican Council, the traditional Mass returned to the parish on November 17, 1985, the day of the patronal feast. However, from 1980 onwards, there were Gregorian Latin Masses, celebrated in the post-council form. Every year a solemn Tridentine requiem mass is celebrated there on January 21 in memory of Louis XVI with the assistance of the Schola Sainte Cécile and based on Gregorian chants and requiem parts by the greatest French composers of the Baroque and Classical periods. Saint Eugéne, born in Rome in the 3C, was one of the main companions of Saint Denis. Having evangelized Spain, where he occupied the see of Toledo, he came to Gaul and fell victim in the Paris region to the anti-Christian persecutions of Maximian. After his arrest in Deuil and beheading, his remains were thrown into Lake Marchais. His body was found and deposited at the Abbey of Saint-Denis, then transferred to Toledo in the 16C at the request of the Spanish.
The official Parish Church Saint Eugéne of Paris : https://saint-eugene.net/
The organs of Paris on the Church Saint Eugéne : https://www.organsparisaz4.orguesdeparis.fr/St%20Eugene.htm
The schola Saint Cecile on the requiem for king Louis XVI : https://schola-sainte-cecile.com/2025/01/20/programme-de-la-messe-solennelle-de-requiem-pour-louis-xvi-11/
The City of Paris on the church : https://www.paris.fr/lieux/eglise-saint-eugene-sainte-cecile-19498
This is hugely wonderful and a must see while in Paris, me think. Do come to see this off the beaten path monument of my eternal Paris. Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Church Sainte Eugéne-Sainte Cécile of Paris !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 