Église Saint-Louis-en-l'Île

The Église Saint-Louis-en-l'Île sits on the central spine of the Île Saint-Louis, identifiable by a pierced, openwork spire that rises like a crown above the surrounding stone houses. Construction began in sixteen sixty-four, replacing a small chapel, but the church remained unfinished for over a century due to a lack of funds and architectural disputes. During the French Revolution, the building lost its statues and interior treasures, serving instead as a storehouse for grain and a stable for the Revolutionary Guard.