Saint-Julien le Pauvre Church near Notre-Dame

Saint-Julien le Pauvre is one of the oldest church sites in Paris, likely dating back to the early 500's. As with many medieval churches, it was destroyed by Vikings and rebuilt later. The one you can visit today was built in 1160...

At that time it was designed as a chapel of a pilgrims' hospice. As it was constructed around the same time as Notre-Dame and is located so close to it, some of the cathedral's masons may have contributed to it as well.

Around 1889, the church was given to the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. The inside decor is an amazing contrast between the bareness of a pilgrims chapel and the richness of the greek icons. Worth a visit if you are in the area while waiting for Notre-Dame to reopen this coming December! Patience...