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Origin and history

Notre Dame de Bougival Church is a religious building dating back to the 12th century. The choir and bell tower, characteristic of Romanesque architecture, were raised during the first half of this century. In the 13th century, the nave, the lower side and the transept were added, adopting a more slender Gothic style. These extensions marked a period of architectural and religious development in the region, where churches became essential community and spiritual centres.

In the 17th century, the western facade was changed, reflecting the stylistic evolutions of the period. However, it was between 1895 and 1900 that the church underwent a major transformation under the direction of architect Lucien Magne, specialist in Historical Monuments. The nave and the lower sides were completely rebuilt, while the transept, the choir and the bell tower were partially taken over. A presbytery with sacristy was also built during this period, consolidating the architectural ensemble.

Notre-Dame de Bougival Church was listed as a Historic Monument in 1862, recognizing its exceptional heritage value. This ranking reflects the historical and architectural significance of the building, which has been through centuries while maintaining significant structural and decorative elements. The 19th-century work, led by Lucien Magne, aimed to preserve and restore the building, while adapting it to the liturgical and aesthetic needs of the time.

Bougival, located in the Yvelines, was in medieval and modern times a village marked by rural and artisanal life. The church, as a place of worship and assembly, played a central role in the daily lives of the inhabitants. It served not only for religious offices, but also as a place for community meetings and social events. The partial reconstruction at the end of the 19th century is part of a broader context of restoration of religious heritage in France, marked by a renewed interest in historical buildings.

The Yvelines region, with its rich past linked to the French monarchy and its progressive development since the Middle Ages, offers a historical setting where churches like Notre-Dame de Bougival are privileged witnesses. These monuments reflect the architectural changes, but also the social and cultural changes of their time. Lucien Magne, architect renowned for his work on Historical Monuments, highlights the importance attached to preserving this heritage in a period of modernization and increasing industrialization.

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