What is Saint-Germain-des-Prés known for?
St-Germain-des-Prés, the 6th Arrondissement of Paris, is best known for the literary and artistic celebrities who lived and worked here in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was the meeting point for existentialists, painters, and writers.
Why is Saint-Germain-des-Prés culturally significant?
Beginning in the Middle Ages, Saint‑Germain‑des‑Prés was not only a religious and cultural center, but also an important marketplace, thanks to its annual fair, which attracted merchants and vendors from all over Europe.
What did Saint-Germain-des-Prés mean?
When the church was rebuilt in 1014, the pope at the time, Alexander III, had it dedicated to the Bishop of Paris, Saint Germain. In French, the word prés means fields, add on the Saint Germain church, and you get Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
How old is Saint-Germain-des-Prés?
1 / The Eglise Saint-Germain-des-Prés This abbey, dating from 543, is the oldest in Paris and has witnessed many events in the city’s history such as its capture by the Vikings – during which it was burnt down. Long before Saint-Denis, the place served as a royal necropolis during the Merovingian period.
What is Saint Germain named after?
The name St~Germain is inspired by St~Germain-Des-Prés, an area of Paris influential in the Art Déco and Belle Époque movements of France.
What arrondissement is Saint Germain?
Located in the 6th arrondissement (district) of Paris, surrounding the metro station and the Church with the same name, the Saint-Germain-des-Pres area is still considered as the epicenter of Parisian intellectual and cultural life.
What is the oldest cathedral in Paris?
The Church of Saint-Germain-des-Près is the city’s oldest church and the very heart of the vibrant neighborhood.
What was the first church in Paris?
Saint-Germain-des-Prés Church
Saint-Germain-des-Prés Church. In the centre of the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighbourhood, the abbey of the same name, founded in 543, is the oldest church in Paris.
Was St-Germain a real person?
The Comte de Saint Germain (French pronunciation: [kɔ̃t də sɛ̃ ʒɛʁmɛ̃]; c. 1691 or 1712 – 27 February 1784) was a European adventurer, with an interest in science, alchemy and the arts. He achieved prominence in European high society of the mid 1700s.