Church of Saint-Paul

You are in front of the church of Saint-Paul, on rue de la Porte de France, at the edge of the Écusson. In 1985, it enjoyed unexpected fame with the much-publicised wedding of the television presenter Yves Mourousi. It was built from 1835 to 1849 to the plans of the architect Charles-Auguste Questel, in a neo-Romanesque style. The first thing that strikes you is the bell tower: it rises to 62 metres, above the crossing of the transept. Before going in, look at the doors: their ironwork and locks were made in 1845 by the ironsmith Pierre Boulanger. Inside, the church is best known for its painted decoration. The painter Hippolyte Flandrin created the murals on the vaults of the nave and the side chapels, with decorative parts by Alexandre Denuelle. The stained glass is the work of the master glassmaker Laurent Charles Maréchal, from Metz. The organ was built in 1848 by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll. The church has been listed as a historic monument since 1909, although its interior decoration would now deserve a major restoration.

History

The church of Saint-Paul was built from 1835 to 1849, to the plans of the architect Charles-Auguste Questel. The building work therefore spanned nearly fifteen years, during which the decoration was also organised: door ironwork in 1845, organ in 1848. The building was listed as a historic monument in 1909. Its present condition calls for work: the interior decoration, especially the murals, would deserve a major restoration.

Art and architecture

Questel adopted the neo-Romanesque style, which revived the forms of Romanesque churches in the nineteenth century. The powerful 62-metre bell tower rises over the crossing of the transept. The interior decoration brings together several great names: Hippolyte Flandrin for the paintings on the vaults of the nave and side chapels, Alexandre Denuelle for the decorative parts, Laurent Charles Maréchal of Metz for the stained glass, Pierre Boulanger for the door ironwork and locks in 1845, and Aristide Cavaillé-Coll for the organ in 1848.

Anecdotes

The twentieth century gave Saint-Paul an unexpected moment of fame: in 1985, the journalist and television presenter Yves Mourousi was married here. The ceremony received wide media coverage. Another famous signature is that of the organ: Aristide Cavaillé-Coll built it in 1848, and another Cavaillé-Coll organ is in Saint-Baudile.

What to look for

Start outside: step back to take in the height of the bell tower, then move closer to the doors to study Pierre Boulanger’s ironwork. Inside, look up at the nave vaults painted by Flandrin, then walk round the side chapels. Look at Maréchal’s stained glass in the light of the moment, and spot the Cavaillé-Coll organ.

Practical

The church is on rue de la Porte de France, in the Écusson, a few minutes’ walk from the Maison Carrée and the Arena. It is an active place of worship: opening times vary, so ask the parish and be discreet during services. The visit takes about a quarter of an hour.

Nearby

The Porte de France, one of the gates of the Roman wall, is very close. To compare two nineteenth-century takes on Gothic and Romanesque, then go and see the neo-Gothic church of Saint-Baudile, built from 1867 to 1877. The Maison Carrée and Carré d’Art are also within walking distance.

Test yourself

Sources

• Wikipedia: Église Saint-Paul de Nîmes

Information checked on 6 October 2026.