Èglise Saint-Germain des prés... In the courtyard on the left is a sculpture by Pablo Picasso as a memorial to Apollinaire who had died young because of war injuries and influenza. The church, Saint Germain des Prés is one of the oldest in Paris. Of course, an early incarnation of the Cathedral Notre Dame already existed on the Il de Cité but this church was built outside of the city wall that existed at the time ("des Prés" means "of the fields".) Vikings actually destroyed the original church here around the year 850. The bishop of Paris was Saint Germain when the rebuilt church was dedicated by Pope Alexander III in 1014. So Èglise Saint-Germain des Prés is the Church of the Fields dedicated to Bishop Saint Germain 😄 It is no longer located in fields, it now in the 6th arrondissement. As much as I love visiting Notre Dame Cathedral and Basilica Sacré Coeur, this church is my favorite in Paris 😍...