Église Saint-Laurent de Paris, 68, Bd de Magenta, Paris
The Church of Saint-Laurent is a remarkable architectural showcase, illustrating the evolution from the 15th-century Flamboyant Gothic style to a 17th-century reconstruction with an eclectic approach, marked by an extensive classical façade, and eventually reverting to a romanticised Neo-Gothic style in the 19th century. Dedicated to Saint Lawrence, a Christian martyr executed in Rome in 258 AD, the church’s early history is somewhat obscure. The current structure began to emerge in the 15th century, following the end of English occupation.
The Flamboyant Gothic style, characterised by intricate stonework, was highly popular during this period. This style is evident in the church’s nave, composed of four spans supported by robust piers and engaged columns that rise uninterrupted to the vaults. The nave, lined with a double collateral, adds depth and grandeur. The choir, also built during this time, extends over three bays, concluding in a three-sided hemicycle with large windows featuring Flamboyant tracery.
The church’s architectural history reflects a fusion of styles. The nave was reconstructed in the 17th century, with the side aisles of the choir and the oval chapel of the Virgin added in the early 18th century. In 1621, a classical-style façade, reminiscent of Jesuit architecture, was introduced, blending classicism with the Gothic structure. Notable 17th-century additions include the well-preserved hanging keystones in the vaults of the nave, transept, and choir, which display intricate carvings and angelic figures, merging Renaissance and Baroque influences within the Gothic framework.
Between 1862 and 1865, during renovations under Napoleon III, architect Simon-Claude Constant-Dufeux led a significant reconstruction, replacing the 17th-century classical façade with a Neo-Gothic one that honoured the 15th-century Gothic style. This new façade, featuring a Flamboyant Gothic spire, a large rose window, and a sculpture of Christ by Aimé-Napoléon Perrey, reflects the 19th-century romantic trend of restoring and reimagining medieval architecture.
