Oratoire du Louvre Protestant Church

This church was originally built to be the royal chapel to the Louvre Palace during the regency of Marie de Médicis. Requiem masses were held here for high profile figures such as Cardinal Richelieu, King Louis XIII and his wife Queen Anne of Austria in the 1600’s.

With the exception of one ceiling painting, nothing remains from the royal history of the church. This is of course due to the French Revolution’ desecrations.

The absence of ostentatious décor or stained glass made the place the perfect candidate for the protestant cult when Napoleon, having restored religious freedom in 1801 made the church available as a temple for protestants ten years later. The Oratoire has remained devoted to that cult to this day. If you enjoy listen to choirs, the temple often offers concerts.