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Metro Line 4 : Saint-Sulpice
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Saint-Sulpice is the second largest church in Paris after Notre-Dame. Its construction began in 1646 but it took over a century to complete it. The result is impressive: the church is 113 meters long, slightly darker than other churches in Paris. When we came in the organist was playing something that could have become the soundtrack to a Dracula movie - the effect was rather spectacular and I walked through the church in silence with my ears and eyes wide open, hair standing on end!
I was relieved to see that the church wasn't too crowded on the day we were there. Saint-Sulpice is one of the Parisian locations mentioned in Dan Brown's best-seller "The Da Vinci Code", and since then many tourists have come to Saint-Sulpice looking for the "Rose Line" and the obelisk mentioned in the book and featured in the movie starring Tom Hanks. But there are other more interesting features to be found in this church, including the murals painted by renowned French artist Eugene Delacroix.
Saint-Sulpice is open everyday and admission is free. In front of the church is Place Saint-Sulpice, ornated with the beautiful Four Bishops Fountain (Fontaine des Quatre-Eveques), where kids and pigeons take turn eating lunch :o) Leave a Comment
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 Equinox mark (oval near
camera) and pillar. by tiabunna,
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A well dressed man in a suit, tie, and gabardine overcoat, came up to me and started talking earnestly in French. When I persuaded him to slow to my comprehension speed, he told me that the brass line on the floor was put there in the 1700s, as part of a scientific experiment. He pointed to the window on the south, high above the floor (photo2) and told me of two holes through which the sunlight passes to land on brass markers at the solstices and equinoxes. He also told me that, with modern technology, it has since been shown to be accurate to within seconds. Then he walked away, speaking to nobody else and knowing I had understood his message. I looked carefully around - shades of the Da Vinci Code indeed! But those candlestick holders (photo 3) are about 1.5 metres tall and not to be waved about lightly.
Whatever the book says, the brass line is not actually on the Paris Meridian and, much as I’m sorry to disappoint you, was never called the ‘Rose Line’. But while there don’t forget to admire the interior of this enormous baroque church and to look at the marvellous organ (photo 4) – with luck, it may even be playing during your visit. Directions: Place Saint Sulpice, 75006.
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The impressive interior of Eglise Saint-Sulpice is dominated by Delacroix's work. The murals in the first chapel were painted between 1849 and 1861.
The Lady Chapel was painted under the supervision of Servandoni, while the Virgin and Child group behind the altar is by Pigalle. Directions: M: Saint-Sulpice (line 4)
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 Place Saint-Sulpice by CoAir13Leave a Comment
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St. Sulpice is one of those saints whose biography makes him appear indeed saintly. His father opposed the idea of him entering the monastic life and required him to oversee the family farm. He spent his spare time in devotional life and service to the poor and only became a monk at the age of 40. Thus he is the patron saint of delayed vocations.
The church here was constructed in the 17th C over the ruins of an earlier 12th C building and is a magnificent example of classical church architecture. However its most recent claim to fame results from the novel ‘The DaVinci Code.’ To disavow what it calls ‘fanciful allegations in a recent best selling novel’ there is a sign on the wall - in English no less - explaining that the brass inlay in the floor was done in conjunction with the Paris Observatory and has never been called the ‘Rose-line’ and does not coincide with the meridian line in Paris. It concludes with the statement: ‘Please also note that the letters ‘P’ and ‘S’ in the small round windows at both ends of the transept refer to Peter and Sulpice, the patron saints of the church, not an imaginary ‘Priory of Sion.’ Leave a Comment
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Dedicated to the Archbishop of Bourges, St Sulpicius, the church was built as parish church in the 6 C and was subsequently modified.
Saint-Sulpice is dominated by its two towers, out of which the left one is taller and more decorated than the right one which was never finished.
Place St-Sulpice in front of the church has in the middle the Fontaine des Quatre Points Cardinals erected by Visconti in 1844. Directions: M: Saint-Sulpice (line 4)
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 Sculpture on the side of
Ste Sulpice by fishandchips,
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My guide advised that work on the church began in 1646 with work on the bell towers continuing until 1780. The church has one of the world's largest organs, comprising 6,700 pipes which may give you a "so what" feeling until you see it - it's fairly impressive.
While you are here, if the need arises, you can also try to find the spot where a certain bady did a bit of digging in the DVC.
Admission is free and the place is open from 7.30am to 7.30pm every day. Leave a Comment
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St Suplice was always a fine place to visit, but is now even more firmly back on the tourist agenda due to the popularity of Dan Brown's book "The Da Vinci code".
Whilst anyone with even a very basic theological knowledge would know that it is a load of complete twaddle, this has not stopped thousands being taken in by this elaborate con.This will no doubt increase when the film version is released.
Many like to visit this church, which is the venue for one of the book's central scenes. If you look in one of the transcepts there is a typed notice which refutes the idea that the church was formally a pagan place of worship, that the brass line running across the church is an ancient 'rose line', and the inter-linked 'PS' on the stained glass windows are not a reference to a mysterious ' Priory of Sion'. The notice can't even bring itself to mention the book by name.
Whether you have read the book or not, the church is well worth a visit if you are in the Latin Quarter area. Leave a Comment
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Saint-Sulpice was one of my favorite churches in Paris, years before the movie "The Da Vinci Code" came out. I particularly love the fountain in front of the church. Saint-Sulpice, a late Baroque church, was constructed between 1646 and 1745. Believe it or not, both the Marquis de Sade and Charles Baudelaire were christened here. This was also the site of the wedding of Victor Hugo.
Outside, the fountain by Visconti presents sculpted portraits of four bishops of the Louis XIV area.
The church is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. There is no cost to enter. Leave a Comment Directions: 6th arrondissement; Metro: Saint-Sulpice
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Not only was the church a great place to visit with a wonderful fountain in front, but the organ music is great. On one morning the organist played the last movement from Beethoven's 9th symphony. Later that day there was a free Bach organi concert. Featured in the DaVinci Code, it was kind of neat seeing the meridian line through the church as well as the candle sticks supposedly used by a bad buy to wack a nun. Apparently the fact they weigh several hundred pounds is cause for amusement by the priests at the Church Leave a Comment
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