Church Saint-Severin visitor guide

Visit Church Saint-Severin, Paris

The Church Saint-Severin is a church in the 5th arrondissement of Paris (so in the Latin Quarter to the south of the river), between Rue Saint-Jacques and Rue des Prêtres Saint-Séverin, and only a few hundred metres from the Cathedral Notre-Dame.

Discover Church Saint-Severin

France This Way review: largely unnoticed by visitors to Paris, the Church Saint-Severin is actually a very impressive example of gothic architecture and one of our favourite churches in Paris, with interesting features including stained glass windows. We suggest you stroll here for a look after exploring the Cathedral Notre-Dame and the other places of interest on the Ile-de-la-Cité, and you will not be disappointed

A small chapel was built here in the early middle ages to celebrate Saint-Severin, a hermit who lived here in the 6th century. This was later replaced, with a church here from the 13th century onwards, and the church we see today was built in the 15th and 16th centuries, largely using the style of architecture known as flamboyant gothic although the belltower is from the 13th century.

From the outside, the most impressive features of the church include its an ornate facade (facing on to Rue des Prêtres Saint-Séverin) and a 13th-century bell tower.

The interior of the church is much more vast than you would expect from the outside, and has managed to retain its authentic atmosphere of still being in the medieval period - this is a large part of the charm of the Church Saint-Severin.

It is the soaring height of the nave with the vaulted ceilings high above the nave that you will notice first. Both sides of the nave feature two rows of stained glass windows, bringing light into what would otherwise be a rather dark church.

As you walk around the Church Saint-Severin you will also see other stained glass windows as well as other works of art such as paintings and statues. Many of the stained glass windows in the church are from medieval times, but there are also quite a few that have been replaced in the 20th century with more recent designs, presumably because the originals were missing or too dilapidated to be repaired.

At the rear of the church, the altar area is surrounded by an ambulatory where you can better appreciate the stonework of the vaulted ceilings, because the ceiling is much lower at this point.

In the choir area of the church, the twisted stone column, a very unusual design incorporated in the structure, represents the tree of life.

The church is also reputed for its organ and acoustics, and concerts frequently take place here.

Attractions nearby

Between the church Saint-Severin and the river you can visit a quaint and famous bookshop called Shakespeare and Company, and a small park in the Square Rene Viviani, with the oldest tree in Paris, and another church, called the church Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre.

Cross the bridge across the river to reach the Ile de la Cité with the cathedral Notre-Dame and the Sainte-Chapelle among the many places of interest.

See more churches in France. You can find more travel ideas in the Paris region guide.

To make travel arrangements to visit Church Saint-Severin see HERE

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Places to visit near Church Saint-Severin

Church Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre

The Church Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre is an ancient church next to Square René Viviani in Paris

Church Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre guide

Shakespeare and Company

Shakespeare and Company is a historic bookshop and literary centre in the 5th arrondissement

Shakespeare and Company guide

Square René Viviani

The Square René-Viviani in the centre of Paris has views of Notre-Dame and the oldest tree in Paris

Square René Viviani guide

Cluny Museum

Cluny Museum is a museum of medieval and religious art in the 5th arrondissement of Paris

Cluny Museum guide

Notre Dame cathedral

The Cathedral of Notre-Dame, on an island in the Seine River, is one of the most remarkable gothic cathedrals in the world

Notre Dame cathedral guide

Sainte-Chapelle

Sainte-Chapelle, on the Ile de la Cité in Paris, is an important gothic chapel with remarkable stained glass windows

Sainte-Chapelle guide

The French version of this page is at Church Saint-Severin (Francais)