79 Paris 10th arrondissement : Saint Laurent. Executioners' burial place.

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Located in the tenth arrondissement, Saint Laurent church dates mostly from the 15th to 17th centuries.

During the French Revolution, it became for a while « a temple of reason » in the period of atempts to massively reduce the influence of the Catholic Church, without encouraging atheism, by establishing other forms of worship. This was Robespierre’s idea, and lasted eight years or so.

Several members of the Sanson family, professional executioners from father to son up till the 1840s, are buried here. They could also do torture for you for a bit extra.

You can see some fine paintings such as « Jesus on his visit to Hell » (I am not making this up – but I guess everyone needs a holiday from time to time). Also interesting stained glass : Clovis getting baptized etc. The Stations of the Cross are very pretty.
















































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