Église Saint-Nizier, Gothic Catholic church in 2nd arrondissement, France.
Église Saint-Nizier is a Gothic church featuring two prominent towers that frame an ornate entrance facade with pointed arches and large stained glass windows. The interior displays characteristic Gothic elements including vaults, columns, and decorated walls that reflect its multi-phase construction history.
A basilica for the martyrs of 177 stood here by the 5th century; the church took its name from Bishop Nicetius, buried here in 573. Rebuilt from the 14th to the late 16th century in Flamboyant Gothic, it was sacked by Huguenots in 1562 and later used as a flour warehouse after the Revolution. The sacristy dates from 1816 and the organ from 1886.
The church is named after Nicetius, bishop of Lyon, buried here in 573; his tomb drew such crowds that the building took his name. In 1975 local prostitutes occupied it to protest police harassment, and since 1996 it has been run by priests and laity of the Emmanuel Community. Look for the tomb of Pauline-Marie Jaricot, foundress of the Propagation of the Faith.
The church is easily located from Place Saint-Nizier and maintains regular opening hours for visitors alongside scheduled services throughout the week. It is wise to check current access times since religious services or special events may affect visitor access to the interior.
The church keeps a 17th-century clock, and its crypt survives beneath the present floor: a Greek-cross chamber with four apses, where bishops of Lyon were buried in the 6th century, including Nicetius, who died in 573.
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