Saint-Eustache, Paris

Saint-Eustache, Paris
Saint-Eustache from the south east
Basic information
Location	2 Impasse Saint-Eustache, 1er arr.
Geographic coordinates	48°51′48″N 2°20′42″E / 48.86333°N 2.34500°E / 48.86333; 2.34500Coordinates: 48°51′48″N 2°20′42″E / 48.86333°N 2.34500°E / 48.86333; 2.34500
Affiliation	Catholic Church
Rite	Roman Rite
State	France
Province	Archdiocese of Paris
Region	Île-de-France
Status	Active
Heritage designation	1862
Website	www.saint-eustache.org
Architectural description
Architectural type	Church
Architectural style	French Gothic
Groundbreaking	1532 (1532)
Completed	1633 (1633)
Direction of façade	West

The Church of St Eustache, Paris (French: L’église Saint-Eustache) is a church in the 1st arrondissement of Paris. The present building was built between 1532 and 1632.

Situated at the entrance to Paris' ancient markets (Les Halles) and the beginning of rue Montorgueil, St Eustace's is considered a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture. The church’s reputation was strong enough at the time for it to be chosen as the location for a young Louis XIV to receive communion. Mozart also chose the sanctuary as the location for his mother’s funeral. Among those baptised here as children were Richelieu, Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, future Madame de Pompadour and Molière, who was also married here in the 17th century. The last rites for Anne of Austria, Turenne and Mirabeau were pronounced within its walls. Marie de Gournay is buried there.

Situated in Les Halles, an area of Paris once renowned for fresh produce of all kinds, the origins of Saint Eustache date back to 13th century. The church became a parish church in 1223, thanks to a man named Jean Alais who achieved this by taxing the baskets of fish sold nearby, as granted by King Philip Augustus. To thank such divine generosity, Alais constructed a chapel dedicated to Sainte-Agnès, a Roman martyr. The construction of the current church began in 1532, the work not being finally completed until 1637. The name of the church refers to Saint Eustace, a Roman general of the second century AD who was burned, along with his family, for converting to Christianity, and it is believed that it was the transfer of a relic of Saint Eustache from the Abbey to Saint-Denis to the Church of Saint Eustache which resulted in its naming. Jeanne Baptiste d'Albert de Luynes was baptised here.