Église de Saint Germain des Prés

I've always just dropped in. In fact, it's where I'll go sometimes when I just need to have a seat and a quick rest in a lovely spot!

If the door is open, be sureto go into The Chapel of Saint Symphorien which is just on the right in the entrance area. It's the oldest part of the church, built in the 11th century.

Thanks so much! Just what i was hoping to hear : )

I thought I remembered Corey Frye doing a live video in here. It's excellent and it was in one of his earlier videos that I learned to go into the Saint-Symphoriem chapel. I'd not noticed it on visits before (mesmerised by the prospect of the gorgeous nave ahead of me!). He tries to go in on this video at about 34:30 but there is a service going on in there. Anyway, it shows what to look for!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc_GQG6a7tI

By the way, there are sometime panhandlers in front here and at Saint-Sulpice. I put money in boxes in the church and don't donated directly to them.

editing to add: I also found this Corey Frye video where he goes into the park right beside the front entrance and shows the original statue by Picasso. So amazing that it is just there! Start at about 25:00.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV2bnS8GTJg

There are frequently concerts in this church; we have been to several including during a jazz festival one year. It is a beautiful place and has been recently been restored. I don't know the hours it stand open but I would aim for late afternoon or mornings as churches are often locked up over lunch times when the priests and brothers get a break.

I just had a minute to look for the official church website. I found it and the open hours.

https://www.eglise-saintgermaindespres.fr/l_eglise/horaires/

CHURCH OPENING
Monday and Sunday 9:30am-20pm
Tuesday to Saturday 8h30-20h

WELCOME BY A LAYMAN
(Request for baptisms, funerals and intentions of mass) - 01.55.42.81.18 / [email protected]
Monday 15h-18h
Tuesday to Friday 10h30-12h and 15h-18h
Saturday 10h30-13h

MASSES
Monday to Friday 19pm
Saturday 12:15 pm and 19 pm (early mass)
Sunday 11am, 19pm and 17pm in Spanish

Janet makes a good point about lunch time closure but they don't list that either on the official website or on the Paris Tourist Info website. They do list the 12:15 mass.

It doesn't look like there is an English option for the website but you can open it in Edge or another browser that will auto translate for you. I generally use Firefox so switch over to Edge if there is too much French for my pathetic vocabulary to translate. You can also scroll down to the QR code with your phone and have the website come up.

Thank you so much for all of this information. We are so looking forward to our visit.

Your assumption about Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3 pm is correct. The French word for guided tour is "une visite." So, it can be difficult, especially for English speakers who want to visit a place but not take a guided tour, to distinguish what is going on!

This is an absolutely beautiful church! The first time I visited I broke into an enormous smile because of the light and color there. It's been a pleasure over the last few years to see the renovations revealed.

Definitely added to our list! We can't wait to see it. Thanks for all your valuable insight.