We come to Normandy often even for more reason than tourism . In my road warrior mode ,we passed many times by the hilly curvy Les Andelys. We finally went in to town and glad to have found me pictures in my cd rom vault that should be in my blog for you and me, Do see my intro post on the town in my blog, The town of Les Andelys is in the departément 27 Eure of the region of Normandie in my belle France, Therefore, here is my take on the Collegiale Church Notre Dame of Les Andelys !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The Collegiale Church Notre Dame is located at Rue Louis Pasteur, and was built in the 13-14C, and 16-17C with renovations, It was in 1215, that the first stones were laid, It takes 5 years to build the choir and the facade, but it will take almost 100 years for the church to look like it still does today. It was especially after the Hundred Years War that enlargements and numerous embellishments were carried out. An impressive Gothic building with dimensions worthy of a cathedral.
The Gothic interior is rather sober, while the exterior is much more stylized, with in particular a lace stone cutout, antique columns or statues of Greek inspiration. When you enter the collegiate church, you see a remarkable collection of 16C stained-glass windows. Paintings by Quentin Varin, the first teacher of a child prodigy from Les Andelys: Nicolas Poussin. They tell us about the life of the apostles, saints and Christian martyrs. The statues and master paintings further enhance the beauty of the place. In particular, there is a polychrome Christ from the 15C, but also statues of Saint Clotilde, which are even older. Paintings adorns the walls, and credenzas on the stalls tell us about the daily life of the inhabitants of the time, represent some animals or show fishermen what they should never do.
To stroll through the Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame, is to remember what France was like several centuries ago. An organ gallery is still there, since 1573. It was carved in wood , the panels obviously tell us about Christian virtues, but also about mythological characters or science. Even today, the organ is in working order, and there are regular concerts or masses.
In the 4C, Saint Space undertook the evangelization of part of Neustria, which would become Normandy. In 511, on the site of his tomb, Queen Saint Clotilde, wife of the Merovingian King Clovis I, founded a monastery to house young noblewomen. This monastery was destroyed by the Vikings in 900. It is also on this site that the Collegiate Church Notre-Dame was built. Construction began in 1215-1220 with the choir and the facade, and was completed a century later. Expansions and embellishments began at the end of the 15C, following the Hundred Years’ War, and were completed in 1570. The current collegiate church, the fruit of four centuries of labor, presents a striking contrast between a sober Gothic interior and a richly flamboyant exterior to the south and a Renaissance decor to the north. Thus, on one side, the flames that reign in the windows and the openwork stonework are revealed, and on the other, the classical columns and statues of Greek inspiration.
The City of Les Andelys on the Collegiale Notre Dame : https://www.ville-andelys.fr/collegiale-notre-dame-2/
The Eure dept 27 tourist office on Les Andelys: https://www.eureka-attractivity.com/discover-les-andelys-in-normandy/
The Normandy region Tourist office on Les Andelys: https://www.normandie-tourisme.fr/sites-lieux-de-visites/les-andelys/
The local New Normandy tourist officd on Les Andelys : https://www.nouvelle-normandie-tourisme.com/decouvrir-nouvelle-normandie/vernon-les-andelys-pacy-sur-eure/les-andelys/
There you go folks, a wonderful off the beaten path town of Les Andelys worth the detour me think. You must stop by the church to make it whole your visit here, Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Collegiate Church Notre Dame of Les Andelys !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 