Let me bring you back to my old domaine and tell you about an off the beaten path that is worth the detour for its architecture and history. I am glad to have found me new pictures in my cd rom vault that should be in my blog for you and me, Therefore, let me tell you about the Church Saint Germain of Villepreux !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The town of Villepreux is located in the department of Yvelines (78) in the Île-de-France region of my belle France.The town is about 12 km west of Versailles, in the plain of Versailles in the extension of the perspective of the gardens of Versailles, as drawn by André Le Nôtre, practically in line with the perspective of the Grand Canal ( an axis which corresponds to the Royal Alley of Villepreux) even if this axis was somewhat forgotten after the French revolution of 1789 and the force moved to Paris of the royal family
The Church Saint-Germain has a length of 40 meters, and a width at the transept of 28 meters. The “Jeanne Marie” bell dates from 1561; north chapel,from the 16C; restoration of the nave around 1875; spire replacing the bell tower’s saddle roof and construction of vaults in 1898; restoration of the keystones and columns attached to the arches at the base of the bell tower in 1899. The church was built in the 12C under the patronage of Saint-Germain, Bishop of Auxerre.
The Church Saint Germain is done in the Latin cross laidout ending in a cul-de-four apse. The western facade features the entrance portal, which is topped by a triplet of semicircular bays and flanked by two buttresses. An oculus surmounts this entrance façade.
The nave has three naves topped by a paneled framework. The interior of the church was restored in 1982, with a new stone altar installed in 1990. The nave of the Church Saint-Germain resembles that of a Romanesque church. The large Chapel of the Virgin, with ribbed vaults on both bays, cannot be older than the 15C. Its two bays with Gothic tracery provide additional light. The nave opens onto a narrow square ;the current Choir delimited by the four massive piers supporting the bell tower. It should be noted that a network of woodwork entirely covers the lower part of the church’s drip walls, except in the Chapel of Saint-Vincent and the apse. It contributes to the church’s interior charm.
In 1030, the town of Villepreux was the property of Limbert de Vergy, Bishop of Paris from 1030 to 1060. He gave the canons of his chapter the church of Villepreux, already dedicated at the time to Saint Germain d’Auxerre. Godfrey of Boulogne, Bishop of Paris from 1061 to 1095, in turn gave the church in 1094 to the Abbey of Marmoutier, near Tours. The monks came to create a priory there dedicated to Saint Nicholas, which would survive until the Revolution. Sources for the following centuries are sorely lacking. At the start of the Hundred Years’ War, the town was quite prosperous. In 1470, only thirty houses in Villepreux were inhabited. In 1613, Vincent de Paul was called to Villepreux by Philippe-Emmanuel de Gondy, general of the French galleys and lord of Villepreux, as tutor to his children. It was there that the priest created the first House of Charity and, in 1633, the congregation of the Daughters of Charity. Saint Vincent de Paul preached in the village church. During the French revolution, the priest of Saint-Germain refused to take an oath to the Constitution and resigned. In October 1793, the church’s silverware was confiscated; in protest, the vicar resigned. The church, then served as a meeting place; the laws were posted in the Chapel of the Virgin. In January 1794, all of the ecclesiastical remains were sold at auction: woodwork, altars, confessionals, stalls, liturgical vestments, etc. The empty church served as a barn. The following April, the church became a Temple of Reason. Catholic worship continued timidly in a private home. After the signing of the Concordat, religious life could resume a peaceful course. The architecture of the church does not seem to have suffered from the French revolution, nor from the occupation of the Cossacks after the two abdications of Napoleon I. Nor, in 1871, during the cantonment in Villepreux of a Prussian quartermaster service and a unit of cuirassiers.
The town of Villepreux on its heritage: https://www.villepreux.fr/votre-ville/
The Yvelines dept 78 tourist office on the plains of Versailles ,see Villepreux : https://www.destination-yvelines.fr/plaine-de-versailles/
There you go folks, like I said a souvenir spot for us, with great architecture and history in my former Yvelines. Worth an off the beaten path detour me think. Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Church Saint Germain of Villepreux !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 