Iglesia San Germán de Auxerre facts for kids

Quick facts for kids San Germán de Auxerre Church
Parish Church of San Germán de Auxerre
Parroquia de San Germán de Auxerre
The front of the church in 2018
San Germán de Auxerre Church Location in Puerto Rico
18°04′57″N 67°02′38″W / 18.082372°N 67.043970°W / 18.082372; -67.043970
Location	San Germán Pueblo, San Germán
Country	Puerto Rico
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	1510
Founder(s)	Alonso Manso
Dedication	Germanus of Auxerre
Dedicated	1573
Architecture
Heritage designation	NRHP
Designated	1984
Architect(s)	Jean Puig
Architectural type	Neoclassical Baroque
Years built	1688, 1737
Completed	1688
Specifications
Floor area	0.4 acres (0.16 ha)
Administration
Diocese	Mayagüez

The San Germán de Auxerre Church is a historic Roman Catholic church in the town of San Germán, Puerto Rico. It stands in the main town square and is a very important landmark. The church was first built in 1688. It has a fancy, detailed style known as Baroque.

Over the centuries, the church has been damaged by many earthquakes and had to be rebuilt several times. Because of its long and interesting history, it is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This means it is officially recognized as a special place worth protecting.

History of the Church

The story of the church begins with the first Spanish settlers in the area. In 1510, they started a small community and a church parish. The town was officially founded in 1573 and named La Villa de San Germán de Auxerre de Nueva Salamanca. It was named for Germanus of Auxerre, a saint who was also the namesake of Queen Germaine de Foix. She was the wife of King Ferdinand II of Aragon of Spain.

The town was built on a flat area in the Santa Marta Hills, near the Guanajibo River. The first church was made of stone and was the center of the new town.

Rebuilding a Stronger Church

The church you see today was built in 1688. Before that, simpler buildings made of wood and stone stood in its place, but they were destroyed. The new, stronger church was damaged by hurricanes and earthquakes between 1717 and 1739.

The church was originally built in a Gothic style. However, after two big earthquakes in 1717 and 1737, it was rebuilt in the Baroque style. This style is known for being very decorative and grand. The church also survived another earthquake in 1787 with only minor damage.

Amazing Art Inside

One of the most famous features of the church is its ceiling. It is painted with special frescoes called trompe-l'œil. This is a French term that means "trick of the eye." The paintings are so realistic that they make the flat ceiling look like it has deep, carved wooden panels. The arches and vault of the ceiling are also painted in this amazing style.

The church also has beautiful altars. The main altar, made of marble, was added in 1869. There are also ten smaller marble altars from the 1800s. In the choir loft, where the singers stand, you can find treasures like metalwork from the 1600s, wooden carvings from the 1700s, and a painting by the famous Puerto Rican artist José Campeche.

Surviving More Challenges

A powerful earthquake in 1918, known as the San Fermín earthquake, caused major damage to the church. Work to repair it began in 1920, and the main tower was rebuilt in 1939.

In 1984, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of a project to recognize the most important historic churches in Puerto Rico. It is also part of the San Germán Historic District, which protects the historic character of the whole town.

Gallery

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  A postcard showing the church in 1914

• 

  The church as it looked in 1964

• 

  A photo of the church from 2009

See also

In Spanish: Iglesia de San Germán de Auxerre (San Germán) para niños

• Porta Coeli
• San Germán Historic District
• List of the oldest buildings in Puerto Rico

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Park Service.