The department 91 Essonne is not well known yet surrounding Paris and well worth your while to pay attention to what it has to offer. The town of Dourdan is in the Essonne dept 91 of the Île de Franceregion of my belle France, about 44 km from Paris. These pictures were in my cd rom vaults and should be in my blog for you and me, Therefore, I like to tell you more about the Church Saint Germain l’Auxerrois of Dourdan, part II !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The Church Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois is dedicated to Bishop Saint Germain l’Auxerrois, and is located at 3 Rue de l’Abbé Gérard in city center Dourdan, opposite the castle, (see post) on the right side of the Place du Général-de-Gaulle which welcomes the Grande Halle du Marché (see post). It dominates the left bank of the L’Orge river.
The west façade is notable for the two towers flanking the central gable wall. The northern tower, known as the bell tower, the taller of the two, has three stories. Square in plan and reinforced with massive buttresses to its summit, this tower exudes an impression of power, further emphasized on the side facing the square by a stair turret lit only by a few arrow slits. It is a true keep, typical of the region.
The north façade extends along the length of the main square, spanning seven bays. Three of these bays contain chapels built after the devastation of the Hundred Years’ War. They are illuminated by large, three-light pointed-arch windows framed by mullions that branch out in various ways, in the purest Flamboyant Gothic style.
The Chapelle de la Vierge or Chapel of the Virgin Mary forms the apse of the church. This beautiful pentagonal chapel, built in 1690, is illuminated by four tall windows whose stained glass depicts the mysteries of the Rosary. The altarpiece, flanked by four large black marble columns, was built in 1648 at the instigation of Anne of Austria for the church’s chancel. It comprises three painted wooden statues: Saint Genevieve (on the left), a Virgin and Child (in the center), and Saint Joseph (on the right). Above the altarpiece is a large decorative panel glorifying God. At the foot of the chapel, a tombstone commemorates the burial of the poet Jean-François Régnard here in 1709.
The organ was inaugurated in 1876 and replaced the 18C instrument. The organ was restored in 1982. Of the symphonic type, with a romantic character, it has a fully mechanical action with an electric turbine blower.
A bit of additional history I like tell us a first church is said to have been founded by Bertrade of Laon, Charlemagne’s mother, in the 7C. Construction of this church began in 1150 under the direction of the canons of Saint-Chéron. It is dedicated to Saint Germain of Auxerre, The church initially comprised only the two bays of the chancel and the transept. Work continued until the beginning of the 13C, concurrently with the construction of the nearby castle of Philip Augustus; its style thus evolved from early Gothic to Flamboyant Gothic. In 1428, during the Hundred Years’ War, Salisbury’s troops severely damaged the upper sections. It was not restored until the end of the 15C, gaining side chapels in the process. During the Wars of Religion, the church was again damaged by the Huguenots, who burned the roof, broke the stained-glass windows, and melted down the bells to make cannonballs. In 1641, the asymmetrical spires were added; in 1648, Anne of Austria donated the four-column high altar in the Chapel of the Virgin; then, in 1689, the Chapel of the Virgin was built, increasing the length of the church by 14 meters to 50 meters and becoming the apse. Ravaged again during the French revolution, the church was transformed into the “Temple of Victorious Reason” and then into a prison until 1795. In the 19C, the almost ruined church was restored in less than ten years thanks to the determination of Abbot Gérard and the donations of the parishioners.
The Dourdan tourist office on the church: https://www.dourdan-tourisme.fr/Chateau-et-patrimoine/L-eglise-Saint-Germain-L-Auxerrois
The City of Dourdan on the church : https://www.dourdan.fr/eglise/
The Essonne dept 91 tourist office on the church : https://www.essonnetourisme.com/en/p/the-church-of-saint-germain-lauxerrois/
There you go folks, another jewel very close to Paris and on the off the beaten path, worthty of a visit indeed. You will be glad you visit the Royal town of Dourdan , and the Church Saint Germain l’Auxerrois of Dourdan, part II !!! Again, hope you enjoy the post as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 