Saint-Jacques Tower

Paris, France

Saint-Jacques Flamboyant Gothic tower is all that remains of the former 16th-century Church of Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie, which was demolished in 1797, during the French Revolution, leaving only the tower. What remains of the destroyed church of St. Jacques La Boucherie is now considered a national historic landmark.

The tower's rich decoration reflects the wealth of its patrons, the wholesale butchers of the nearby Les Halles market. The masons in charge were Jean de Felin, Julien Ménart and Jean de Revier. It was built in 1509 to 1523, during the reign of King Francis I. With a dedication to Saint James the Greater, the ancient church and its landmark tower welcomed pilgrims setting out on the road that led to Tours and headed for the way of St James, which led to the major pilgrimage destination of Santiago de Compostela.

A relic of the saint preserved in the church linked it the more strongly and in modern times occasioned its listing in 1998 as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO among the sites and structures marking the the pilgrimage routes in France that led like tributaries of a great stream headed towards Santiago in the northwest of Spain.

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Address

Rue de Rivoli 39B, Paris, France
See all sites in Paris

Details

Founded: 1509-1523
Category: Religious sites in France

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Dan Maarek (41 days ago)
I liked a lot the site and especially its benches, yes the benches. When you walk Paris, you eventually get tired and you not always wish to sit at a cafe but you just want to rest and enjoy a nice view or look at a park. This is exactly the case here and the pause facing this beautiful tower and its flowers around was more than welcome.
Barbara B (46 days ago)
300 steps to climb is not for everyone but the view at the top of all Paris is amazing. Tour guide explanation of the history is very interesting. Booking is required as limited numbers in each visit.
未来Mirai (2 months ago)
People were chilling there near by. It was really crowded. Some people were sun bathing there. Be careful and always look at your purse and pocket. You can chill here but this place must be crowded all the time. You can not really see much here but i bet this place is on your bucket list in Paris.
Mike Aoun (6 months ago)
A historical tower in the middle of a public park. I haven’t been inside but i was told it is a nice climb, and will be doing so soon. It has a lot of history and gives its surrounding neighborhood a sense of uniqueness. You can also see the gargoyles and statues just passing by it.
V H (6 months ago)
Located in a beautiful Park/gardens, stands this lone structure (tower in the gothic style, erected in the 1500's) as a monument to what is left of a church destroyed in the late 1700's, the gardens are a perfect place to have a picnic lunch.
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