Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois Church in Paris: opening hours, free entry and visit opposite the Louvre

Updated on October 15, 2026

Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois church, at 2 place du Louvre in the 1st arrondissement, can be visited freely, with no ticket and no reservation; allow 30 minutes. It is closed on Mondays and open from 10 am to 7 pm on other days (until 7:30 pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays), with different hours in summer. Facing the Louvre colonnade, this former parish church of the kings of France combines a Romanesque bell tower, a 15th-century Flamboyant porch and rich furnishings.

Highlights

The bell tower and facade opposite the Louvre

The Romanesque bell tower, the rose window and the Flamboyant porch make up a composite facade a few steps from the Louvre colonnade. The church was the parish of the monarchs who lived at the Louvre. According to tradition, its bells gave the signal for the Saint Bartholomew's Day massacre in 1572.

The Gothic choir and nave

Seen from the crossing, the church shows a Gothic choir lit by stained glass, altered over the centuries. Look for the 17th-century churchwardens' pew, originally reserved for the royal family, and the side chapels.

Practical info

Tips

Entry is free. The church is closed on Mondays, and summer hours differ from those given here: check the parish website before coming in July or August.
Guided visits are generally offered on Thursdays and Saturdays from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm by CASA guides (Communautés d'Accueil dans les Sites Artistiques), with no guarantee: ask on site.
It is a place of worship: Sunday Mass is at 10:30 am, so it is better to visit at another time. The church faces the Louvre, with the Pont Neuf and the Tuileries Garden close by. For another church in the area, see Saint-Eustache church.

How to get there

Metro line 1, Louvre-Rivoli station, or line 7, Pont Neuf station. Address: 2 place du Louvre, 75001 Paris, opposite the Louvre colonnade. For somewhere to sleep nearby, see the hotels in the Louvre area on Booking.

Opening hours

Best: Weekday afternoons

Lundi Fermé

Mardi 10:00-19:00

Mercredi-Jeudi 10:00-19:30

Vendredi-Dimanche 10:00-19:00 (different hours in summer)

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