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Origin and history

The former church of Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul de Colombes, located in Place du Général-Leclerc, is a building of which today only remains the bell tower and a few spans of the 12th century. Originally built to replace an older place of worship, it has undergone many transformations over the centuries. In the 17th century, its western part was demolished to allow the route of the future national road 186, illustrating the adaptation of heritage to urban needs.

In the 19th century, the bell tower and the church were redesigned twice (1844, then between 1888 and 1892) before an almost total destruction in 1968 to widen the street. This demolition revealed Merovingian sarcophagus and bones, reflecting an ancient occupation of the site. The remains saved by volunteers include architectural elements and the bell tower, the only protected element since 1937. In 2016, restoration projects highlighted its ruins, highlighting their dramatic and historic character.

Although disused, the church still belongs to the parish of Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul de Colombes. His successor, a modern church built between 1967 and 1968 by architect Jean Hébrard, perpetuates his name. Excavations and studies, like those of Abbé Lebeuf in the 18th century, suggest that the Gothic choir would have been added late to respond to the population growth of the village.

The Merovingian sarcophagus discovered in 1968 confirmed an ancient funeral occupation, while the bones exhumed during the stabilization of the bell tower (unspecified date) reinforced the archaeological importance of the site. Today, the bell tower and the two remaining spans constitute a fragmentary but precious testimony to the religious and urban history of Colombes.

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