Temple du Marais, Protestant church in Le Marais, 4th arrondissement, Paris, France
The Temple du Marais is a Protestant house of prayer located in the Marais district of Paris's 4th arrondissement, featuring a vaulted ceiling and clear internal structure. The interior displays a symmetrical layout with several chapel areas that define the overall sacred space.
The building was constructed in 1634 under architect François Mansart initially as a Catholic convent facility for religious communities. Following the French Revolution, it was reassigned in 1802 under Bonaparte as a site for Reformed faith.
The order's crest still sits above the rose window over the entrance, and a Phrygian cap carved above a door recalls the Revolution. Sunday services run in French, then in an African community service, Japanese and Arabic; volunteers give tours on Saturday afternoons.
The building opens regularly for visitors who wish to explore its architecture and space. It helps to check opening hours beforehand, as the building primarily functions as an active community gathering place.
The crypt, finished in 1665, held the family vault of Nicolas Fouquet, Louis XIV's Superintendent of Finances; his body was moved here a year after his death in 1680 and lies in the walled vault, though no inscription marks it. During the World Wars the crypt served as a shelter from bombardment, and under the German occupation the organ hid Jews.
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