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Origin and history

The Saint Paul church of Lyon, located in the Saint Paul district of Old Lyon, is one of the oldest churches in the city. It combines Romanesque and Gothic styles, with elements such as the tower-lantern classified in 1920 and the entire protected building since 1996. Its history dates back to at least the 9th century, although no vestiges of this time remain today. The Romanesque parts visible today, including the St. Lawrence Gate and the sculptures, were built between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, the church was modified by the addition of Gothic elements, such as the bell tower and side chapels. In the 17th century, a doric gate was erected, while in the 18th century, the architect Cyr Decrenice enlarged the abside. After the damage of the Revolution, major restorations were carried out in the nineteenth century by the family of architects Benoît, including the reconstruction of the arrow in 1875 and interior works between 1898 and 1904. The last restoration was in 2002.

The church also houses notable historical traces, such as the burial of theologian Jean Gerson. Today, it remains an active place of worship, animated by the Emmanuel community, and bears witness to nearly ten centuries of Lyon's religious and architectural history.

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