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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Collège Notre-Dame-du-Fort d'Étampes, located in the Essonne department in Île-de-France, was founded around 1022 by King Robert Le Pieux. This religious monument, initially of small dimensions, kept only its crypt under the choir, completed in the middle of the eleventh century. A major reconstruction took place between 1130 and 1180, with five close construction campaigns, integrating Parisian and Champagne influences. The church was then fortified at the beginning of the thirteenth century, adding crenellated parapets and a round path, making it one of the most complex churches in the region.

The bell tower, produced by three distinct campaigns until 1180, is considered one of the most elegant in Île-de-France. The interior of the college reveals a hybrid architecture, blending late Romanesque and early Gothic styles, with vaults of ridges in the nave and arches of warheads in the choir and crosses. The royal gate, located on the south side, is one of the most remarkable elements, dating back to the mid-12th century and adorned with sculptures depicting biblical scenes and column statues.

Ranked a historical monument in 1840, the college underwent important restorations in the 19th century, notably under the direction of architect Pierre Magne, who worked to restore to the nave and cross of the transept their original state. The furniture and stained glass windows, some of which date back to the Renaissance, as well as the 16th century murals and organ, testify to the historic and artistic richness of the site. The college remains today the main Catholic church in Etampes, after having played a central role in the religious and community life of the city since the Middle Ages.

The history of the college was also marked by tragic events, such as the looting by the English in 1358 during the Hundred Years' War or the destruction by the Calvinists in 1562 during the Wars of Religion. Despite these trials, the monument has retained much of its architectural and artistic integrity, thanks to continuous restoration campaigns, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries. The crypt, chapels, and defensive elements added to the 13th century illustrate the different phases of its evolution, reflecting both its religious importance and its role in defending the city.

Among the most notable elements are the 12th century royal gate, richly carved, and the 12th and 13th century stained glass windows, some of which have been restored. The college also houses classified works of art, such as statues-columns of the royal portal, paintings of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and an organ of the sixteenth century. These elements, combined with complex architecture and a turbulent history, make Notre-Dame-du-Fort an emblematic monument of French religious and historical heritage.

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