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,part I !!! 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 !
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.
The Porte des Comptes is the only remaining vestige of the former “Hôtel des Comptes” built in 1536. It allowed, as it still does, access from the square in front of the Collegiate Church Notre Dame to the Rue du Fort. Its name derives from its proximity to the “Chambre des Comptes” (Chamber of Accounts). The latter was a large room located on the upper floor of the Porte du Fort. It is believed to have been installed there by Queen Marie of Brabant in 1285. According to the plans, it was to include a tabernacle with a statue of Notre Dame, visible from both sides. In 1640, the city requested the demolition of this “completely ruinous” building and the reuse of its materials in the reconstruction of thecity/town hall. The gate itself was preserved but suffered considerable damage during the French revolution.
The Tour Saint-Martin Tower located at 44 Rue des Martraits is the only remaining tower of the old rampart; it owes its name to the nearby Saint-Martin Priory. The town of Mantes was probably fortified as early as the 10C. The fortifications were rebuilt around 1107 under the authority of King Louis VI the Fat. Besieged and then destroyed, the original enclosure was rebuilt and reinforced on numerous occasions, notably by Charles V between 1365 and 1378. It was then remodeled again during the English occupation from 1419 to 1449 to adapt it to new artillery and improve its defenses. Just behind the Priory of Saint Martin, from which it takes its name. Although only sparsely documented in the archives, it almost certainly played a significant role in the city’s defense. The Saint Martin Tower housed three vaulted floors beneath its upper platform. The lower hall consisted of a large vaulted room without ribs, ending in a semi-dome. At 3.75 meters below its stringcourse, a gargoyle diverted rainwater from the ground-floor room into the moat. On the first floor, a handsome room measuring 4 m x 7.27m x 3.68 m was vaulted with a semicircular arch. The walls are very thick. Its cannon-equipped turret could defend the eastern and southern fronts. In the 14C, it was likely covered by a central room with a covered parapet walk; this covering was probably removed in 1446 to install artillery. Its squat volume, its horseshoe plan evoking the artillery towers of the 15C, the firing embrasures of the crossbow-gun ports pierced at the bottom of wall casemates meant that by its design, it was intended to resist the new means of attack of the time. Today it has still about two thirds of its original size,
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
We had come here to see the monuments of course, but also to go to the market always chasing them all over France! Here there is a nice one with great views of the Collegiate Church Notre Dame. The market is held Wednesdays and Saturdays mornings at the marché Couvert du Vieux Pilori 7h30 to 13h and the Marché Centre Ville fleas right by the place du Marché au Blé, 8h30 to 12h30 , and this is where the Christmas market or Marché de Noêl is held too.
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,part I !!! as I
And remember, happy travels , good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 