This is going back to my former backyard in the Yvelines dept 78 of the Ïle de France region. I was several times in Mantes la Jolie as my oldest son went to specialized restaurant chef school there; once in the city walk around to see its monuments and found out this is also one of the Royal towns of France. I have found several photos not in my blog that needs to be in ;so therefore here are my curiosities of Mantes La Jolie !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
This is the farthest from Paris ,but also a Royal town of France. Why because king Henri IV in a letter to Gabrielle d’Estrées, his mistress, who resided in Mantes, the king wrote to her: “I come to Mantes, my Pretty” ,and so it stuck as Mantes-la-Jolie !
The Collegiale Church Notre-Dame de Mantes-la-Jolie is a gothic Church of the 12C and 13C. I have written plenty on it so just a brief introduction here with the new pictures. The total length is about 68 meters and the length of the nave and choir about 58 meters; the total height of the towers is 61 meters. The Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame consists, beyond the massif facade, of a nave of seven arched bays of warheads flanked by collateral vaulted with quadripartite warheads. The high nave is on three levels with large arches in broken arcs resting on an alternation of weak buttresses and strong pylons, arched grandstands of quadripartite warheads and broken cradles, and finally broken arch windows. The bedside, which supplements the composition, was not originally gifted with any Chapel. The radiant chapels, as well as those of the aisles, are additions to the 13C and 14C. The western façade is pierced by three large carved portals surmounted by a rose, crowned by two towers, the appearance of which was profoundly altered by 19C restorations.
Another interesting sight here is the Renaissance fountain by the church and old hospital, This is new in my blog. The current fountain is a reproduction of the one erected in 1526. It is the only known Renaissance fountain with two basins. In 1689, the basin was raised and the child who originally crowned the fountain was removed. In 1908, where it was completely restored, being in very poor condition. In August 1942, it was damaged by a drunkard who broke the upper basin. Severely damaged in 1944, it was no longer in a condition to be put back in place, so a reproduction was made and mounted in the rue de la Heuse, in view of the Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame and the old Hôtel Dieu, probably because of the preserved historical setting on this side of the street. As for the original, it has been put away.
One place we ate often almost every time in town was the Pizzeria del Teatro and darn, could not see it mention in my previous posts on Mantes La Jolie ! Here is credit where credit is due on this fine resto, The Pizzeria Del Teatro has been officiating for more than thirty years in the city center of Mantes-La-Jolie, this is a real institution, which is difficult to miss, with its red storefront. In the three rooms and on the terrace open in the summer, totaling nearly 200 covers, an impressive variety of transalpine specialties are served. The beautiful terrace is perfect for sunny days.
The official Pizzeria Del Teatro: https://del-teatro.fr/
The RestaurantGuru reviews on the pizzeria : https://restaurantguru.com/Del-Teatro-Mantes-la-Jolie
More info webpages ,first from the city of Mantes La Jolie on the Collegiate Church Notre Dame: https://www.manteslajolie.fr/ma-ville/decouvrir-mantes-la-jolie-1/la-collegiale-notre-dame
The city of Mantes La Jolie on its history/heritage: https://www.manteslajolie.fr/ma-ville/decouvrir-mantes-la-jolie-1/histoire-de-la-ville
It is easy does it from Paris Saint Lazare to Mantes la Jolie station at place du 8 mai 1945 (not to take the Mantes Ville station) ,there are two here. On the road ,take the A13 out of Paris direction Rouen (autoroute de Normandie) exit/sortie 11. Follow signs for city center (centre ville), and will come to it.
There you go folks , another gem of my belle France. Always memorable to come to nostalgic Mantes La Jolie. It is nice by City center all monuments are reach on foot, Hope you enjoy the post on the curiosities of Mantes La Jolie as I
And remember, happy travels , good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
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