The church, that is to say, the primitive chapel which was built on this
spot, was one of those which were founded, about the middle of the
VIIth century, by the illustrious archbishop saint Ouen. It was at that
time very far out of the city, since the limits on this side of the
town extended only as far as the streets de l'Aumône, and Robec, during
the life-time of saint Ouen. It was only six hundred years after, under
saint Louis, that the church of Saint-Nicaise was comprehended within
the interior of the town. The choir of this church is remarkable for the
symmetry of its proportions. Its organ was placed in 1634. The remainder
of the architecture of this church does not offer any thing to fix the
attention. At the eastern extremities of the aisles, we perceive two
mutilated painted glass windows; but which nevertheless call forth the
admiration of the connaisseur. The one of them represents the three
christian virtues, the other, two figures of the same description, with
that of a bishop. The heads are very beautiful, and the draperies quite
dazzling, from their brilliant colours.


SAINT-VINCENT.

This church was formerly called _Saint-Vincent-sur-Rive_, because it was
situated on the bank of the river. The treasurers of Saint-Vincent had
the salt measures in their keeping, they were deposited in a small tower
at the entrance of the church, for that purpose. When the boats loaded
with salt passed by the church, they had to give a certain quantity to
the parish, which has been since replaced by an annual sum of 140
livres. Saint-Vincent, like most other catholic temples, was pillaged in
1562 by the calvinists.