Saint-Nicholas-des-Champs, Paris, Gothic church in 3rd arrondissement, Paris, France
Saint-Nicholas-des-Champs is a Gothic church in Paris's 3rd arrondissement featuring a spacious interior with multiple chapels and sturdy columns supporting the high vaulted roof. A Renaissance doorway on the south side frames the main entrance, while a bell tower rises above the structure.
The church began in 1421 during the Hundred Years' War as a small chapel, growing steadily into a major religious building over the following centuries. Its construction and expansion reflect the changing needs and prosperity of the neighborhood over time.
The church served as the main religious and social hub for the neighborhood's craftspeople and merchants, earning it a reputation as a working-class sanctuary. The devotion to Saint Nicholas shaped how locals gathered and celebrated throughout the centuries.
Enter through the Renaissance doorway on the south side to discover the bright, spacious interior filled with chapels throughout. The church holds regular services, and its location near the Arts and Crafts Museum makes it easy to visit during a neighborhood walk.
Inside sits a historic pipe organ that has been repeatedly modified over the centuries and currently awaits restoration to play again. This instrument represents one of Paris's oldest surviving organ traditions in active religious spaces.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
