About the Church of Saint-Joseph-des-Carmes (Saint Joseph of the Carmelites) in Paris:
Founded in 1613 by Marie de Médicis, thechurch is dedicated to Saint Joseph and built for the Discalced Carmelites, an order reformed by Saint Teresa of Ávila. Construction finished in 1620, with consecration in 1625. It features a distinctive Italian Baroque style, including Paris’s first dome with trompe-l’œil frescoes depicting the prophet Elijah, and artworks like a Virgin and Child by Bernini and a painting by Quentin Varin.
During the French Revolution, the church was converted into a prison, where 114 priests refusing to swear allegiance to the Republic were massacred in September 1792. Their remains are in the crypt, alongside the tomb of Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, founder of the Saint Vincent de Paul Conferences. The site also served as a prison for aristocrats in 1794, including Alexandre de Beauharnais.
Today, it functions as a parish church, the ICP’s chapel, and a seminary chapel under the Diocese of Paris.
The retable of the main altar displays one of the major works of art in the church, “The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple”, painted by Quentin Varin (1570-1634). It is in the school of Mannerism, and is dated 1624. Above the retable and painting are group of sculpted angels. The altar displays a very ornate Neo-Baroque tabernacle, made in the 19th century, which replaced the original 17th century work created by Pierre Mignard.
The crypt and gardens, known for producing “Eau des Carmes” (lemon balm water), are notable features.
Traveling to the Church of Saint-Joseph-des-Carmes (Saint Joseph of the Carmelites) in Paris:
The church is in Paris’s 6th arrondissement, within the Catholic Institute of Paris (ICP) and the Carmes Seminary. It is accessible via Metro (Rennes, Saint-Placide, Saint-Sulpice, Sèvres-Babylone) and bus lines (58, 83, 84, 89, 94, 95, 96).
Address: 70 Rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris, France
Phone: +33 1 45 44 89 77