This is going back to my former backyard in the Yvelines dept 78 of the Île de Franceregion of my belle France. I was several times in Mantes la Jolie (see posts) 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 found me these pictures in my cd rom vault that should be in my blog for you and me, Therefore here is my take on the Church Sainte Anne of Gassicourt in Mantes la Jolie !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The quartier or neighborhood of Gassicourt was once a village, has been home to a small architectural gem since the 11C, the Sainte-Anne Church. A pretty Romanesque church, it still contains beautiful wooden stalls and some painted decorations. The former village of Gassicourt was annexed to Mantes la Jolie in 1930. Of the old village with its rural past, only a few vestiges remain apart from the church. Now remarkably restored, the church was then part of a substantial group of religious buildings: the Saint-Sulpice de Gassicourt priory, owned by the Cluny Abbey since 1074. This priory was the center of a large rural exploitation that extended far into the neighboring cantons. Its church was dedicated to Sainte-Anne in 1649. In 1738, the church, buildings, and land were purchased by François de Sénozan, Lord of Rosny. The church then became a parish church, and the priory was destroyed two years later. After the French revolution, it briefly belonged to Talleyrand. Between 1851 and 1862, it was restored the portal and the bell tower, then cleared the church of other buildings between 1872 and 1877.
The interior of the Church Sainte Anne has semicircular arches of the nave rest on massive columns with capitals decorated with stylized plants. A recumbent statue dating from the 1180s, with very refined sculpture, links the church to the history of its neighbor, the Collegiate Church Notre Dame (see posts). Finally, the remarkable element of this church is in the choir ; a set of 32 oak stalls from the end of the 15C. They have an original decoration that gives us a lot of information about daily life at the time. Through the theme of the work of the months, several trades are illustrated such as the reaper, the sower, or the grape harvester. These scenes also evoke the wine-growing activity of Gassicourt at this time. Although the bombings of May 7, 1944 severely damaged the church, fortunately the furniture was spared.
A brief history of Mantes la Jolie (see posts) tell us that the first known mention of Mantes appears at the beginning of the 9C. The history of the city is closely linked to that of the kings of France. The construction of the city of Mantes was made official by the signing of a charter in 1110 by King Louis VI, granting the city a certain autonomy. In the 16C, the Wars of Religion did not spare Mantes. To ensure its defense, Mantes then equipped itself with new ramparts to resist the assaults of the enemies. Mantes-la-Jolie still retains part of its ramparts, notably the Porte au Prêtre, and several remarkable monuments, such as the Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame, the Church of Sainte-Anne de Gassicourt or the old bridge of Mantes 11C, immortalized by the painter Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot. During their great journey in 1645, Louis XIV and Anne of Austria stopped for a few days in Mantes and stayed at the Hôtel Mornay. A holiday resort for several French kings, it was Henri IV who gave it its name, writing to his mistress Gabrielle d’Estrées, « Je suis à Mantes, ma jolie » or I am in Mantes, my pretty one.
The City of Mantes la Jolie on the Church Sainte Anne of Gassicourt : https://www.manteslajolie.fr/ma-ville/decouvrir-mantes-la-jolie-1/leglise-sainte-anne-de-gassicourt
The Destination Yvelines dept 78 tourist office on the Church Sainte Anne of Gassicourt : https://www.destination-yvelines.fr/visites-et-decouvertes/eglise-sainte-anne-de-gassicourt/
The City of Mantes la Jolie on its heritage : https://www.manteslajolie.fr/ma-ville/decouvrir-mantes-la-jolie-1
There you go folks , another gem of my dear Yvelines. Always memorable to come to nostalgic Mantes La Jolie. It is nice by city center all monuments are reach on foot, Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Church Sainte Anne of Gassicourt in Mantes la Jolie !!! as I
And remember, happy travels , good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 