Paris1972-Versailles2003

We were on our road warrior mode a while back in my other life in another region of my belle France. As usual, I passed by Senlis, and needed to stop briefly, to give it my tour of honor, This is a City of many nice monuments and of course more time is needed, I just touch base , and happy to have found these older paper pictures that needs to be in my blog. For reference, the City of Senlis is in the department 60 of the Oise, old Picardie and the new region of Hauts de France. Therefore, let me tell you a bit on this is Senlis !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I

Senlis is located 42 km from Paris, 44 km from Beauvais, 79 km from Amiens, and 73 km from my dear Versailles, The city is located at km 33 of the old national road 17 ,this road is in fact the old royal road leading from Paris to Lille, whose current route through Senlis dates from the 1750s. The old RN 17 has become the departmental route 1017 ; the City is near the A1 highway connecting Paris to Lille. The RN 330 from Meaux to Creil, Paris avoids transport flows between the east and the north of the large basin, A third important route crossing Senlis is the former RN 324, which became RD 1324 east of Senlis towards Crépy-en-Valois, its continuation to Chantilly in RD 924. Also, the road RD 932 to Compiègne.

The remains of the Château Royal and Priory Saint-Maurice, Impasse Beaume: The body of Logis and the Saint-Denis chapel were built before 1137. The buildings were altered several times until the 16C, Henri IV being the last king to reside there. The neighboring priory was founded around 1260 by Saint-Louis to welcome the relics of Saint-Maurice. The cloister was destroyed in the 18C and a house for the prior is built (current building of the Vénerie Museum). From the priory of origin, notably remains the dormitory of the monks with a magnificent frame which dates from the time around the year 1500.

The Musée de la Vénerie, (hunting museum) inaugurated on October 12, 1935 in the chapel of Charity and on September 5, 1958 in its current home, the Logis du Prieur de l’Ancienne Saint-Maurice, the only museum of its kind in Europe, The museum evokes the cultural and artistic dimension of hunting, a tradition deeply rooted in the region. The house is decorated with many trophies of this custom. Tables, engravings, photographs, art objects and accessories used for the practice of hunting hunting complete this building and testify through a recent museography of the importance of hunting in history.

The Hôtel Raoul de Vermandois at place du Parvis Notre-Dame, would have been built for Raoul Ier de Vermandois, but was only completed after his death in 1152. It is one of the rare witness to the urban civil architecture in the middle of the 12C However, the oldest parts of the current house do not seem to go back up before the 14C. The floor and the turret with its screw staircase were built in the 16C. On the garden side, the city wall remains and one of the twenty-eight turrers. The building has four levels with a stair in brick and stone , The City of Senlis bought the house in 1819 ; it was then occupied by a school of the Christian Brothers in 1822 , and in 1832 just a school was there, In 1922 the conservation of mortgage takes over the mansion , and the City took over in 1977 to set up a small history museum on the ground floor in 1989 recalling the history of Senlis with archeology, liturgical ,paintings, and engravings as well as funerary items, There is an audivisual film telling abou the history of the City , Also, it receives temporary exhibition events, Check as read was close for renovations, Raoul de Vermandois was the grand-son of Capetian Henri Ier German cousin and counselor of Louis VI and Louis VII.

Other things to see and time is needed as there is so many, The Cathédrale Notre-Dame built in the 12-13C, it is the most important monument in the Middle Ages that the city contains. This small cathedral built on the Gallo-Roman enclosure is part of the group of cathedrals of the first Gothic art, on the model of the Saint-Denis basilica. The Gallo-Roman arenas: the ancient show building dates from the 1C AD and staged animal fights essentially, but also theater, dance and song shows. .Former Saint-Vincent abbey, rampart Bellevue, church Saint-Aignan, rue de Beauvais (vestiges) ,Collegiate Saint-Frambourg, Place Saint-Frambourg, Ancient parish church Saint-Pierre, Place Saint-Pierre , Ancient episcopal palace (Museum of Art and Archeology de Senlis), former hospital of Charity, rue de Meaux, rue de la Poterne and rue du Temple , ramparts Gallo-Roman: this is one of the best preserved in North Gaul. Built in the 2C and 4C, it was 840 m long. Of the twenty-eight towers, fifteen remain today, sometimes integrated into more recent buildings, just like the ramparts itself, The medieval ramparts, construction began under King Philippe-Auguste towards the end of the 12C, and its extension to the Saint-Vincent abbey in 1287 marks its completion, the ramparts remain to be seen at boulevard des Otages,rempart Bellevue, rempart de l’Escalade The vestiges remain at the Porte de Meaux, , Also, former Hôtel-Dieu de Gallande, 26 rue Du Châtel: founded in 1223,

A bit of history, well condense, I like tell us that Senlis is of ancient foundation, royal stay during the Middle Ages, the city retains a rich heritage in its long history and has several museums. The old town is made up of a set of houses and old alleys around a Gallo-Roman and medieval ramparts,in turn around a Gothic cathedral. The first mention of a county of Senlis dates from 823 Several clues show that the royal castle existed at the latest towards the middle of the 9C ; in 854, the royal treasure is in Senlis, and Charles Le Chauve dated many charters From Senlis the Count Bernard de Senlis having no heir, the city entered the possessions of Hugues Capet at the latest in 981, where he was elected king by his barons in 987 before being sacred in Noyon. The construction of the first cathedral of Senlis begins at the end of the 10C under the Capetians, Senlis is a royal city, remains of the kings of France, from Hugues Capet to Charles X. In 1170, the order of Saint-Jean de Jerusalem establishes a commandery, a hospital and a church in Senlis. This order was a large real estate owner in the city, with up to a hundred and a house in its assets, which partly still exists, Under Philippe-Auguste, the construction of a new enclosure is started, surrounding the main districts of the city at its completion in 1287.

Senlis experienced her peak in the 12-13C. It lives from the trade of wool, leather and fur. A comparison of the plans of Senlis and Paris in the 13C suggests that Senlis was then larger than Paris, In 1475, the Treaty of Senlis, also called “Peace of Senlis”, is concluded by François II of Brittany with the King of France Louis XI at the royal abbey Notre-Dame-de-la-Victoire near Senlis. In 1493, King Charles VIII, son of Louis XI, signed the Treaty of Senlis with the Duke of Burgundy Maximilian of Austria, it was starting with Senlis that Henri IV succeeded in rallying most of the cities behind him, strong reason since its abjuration of Protestantism on July 25, 1593, and empties the league of its substance, The revolutionary period sees the abolition of the diocese of Senlis and religious establishments, with the exception of the Charité hospital and the Hôtel-Dieu. Thanks to a liberal town at first, the cathedral remains open to Catholic worship. Under the National Convention, this situation changed from August 1, 1793 with the start of terror. The cathedral was transformed into a temple of reason in February 1794, Senlis is briefly occupied by the Prussians from April 1 to 2, without suffering violence.

The Prussian invasion was repeated on June 28, 1815 when Marshal Blücher stayed in the surroundings for a few days. This invasion will last until early November, and the city suffers from heavy requisitions, but there was no reprisals, The war of 1870-71 brought in Senlis the third Prussian invasion of this 19C. It only lasts twenty-four hours, no struggle having taken place in Senlis or its surroundings. At the start of the Great War or WWI, and more specifically on September 2, 1914, Senlis was subjected to German reprisals in 1914 following the French rearguard shots against the occupation troops: one hundred and houses on the rue de la République and rue Bellon are burnt down, including the courthouse, as well as the train station. On July 11, 1920, the city received the War Cross with quote for “merits and sufferings” endured during the war, During WWII, some fights took place at the entrance to the city and then the city was occupied for four years . A Kreiskommandantur is installed there for some time. The town was liberated by American troops in August 1944.

Films shown Senlis that I like over the year are Cartouche (1962) by Philippe de Broca, Molière (1978) by Ariane Mnouchkine, Danton (1982) by Andrzej Wajda, La Folle Jour or Le Mariage by Figaro (1989) by Roger Coggio, and Queen Margot (1994) by Patrice Chéreau.

The City of Senlis on its heritage : https://www.ville-senlis.fr/Decouvrir-Senlis/Patrimoine-Histoire

The local Chantilly-Senlis tourist office on Senlis : https://www.chantilly-senlis-tourisme.com/en/the-destination/la-cite-medievale-de-senlis/

The Oise dept 60 tourist office on Senlis : https://www.oisetourisme.com/visiter/visites-et-decouverte/?_commune=senlis

There you go folks, this is Senlis ,lots more to see and enjoy this wonderful city of the Oise. There are so many monuments to see here will take a couple visits to see it all, and looking forward to it, eventually, This is a wonderful nice architectural gem that is worth the detour , me think, Again, hope you enjoy the post on this is Senlis as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!