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Origin and history

The Cathedral of Saint-Geneviève-et-Saint-Maurice de Nanterre finds its origins in a medieval parish church dedicated to Saint Maurice, attested as early as the third century. This place of worship, the only religious building on the peninsula of Gennevilliers in ancient times, became a major pilgrimage centre after the meeting in 429 of Saint Geneviève, then a child, with the bishops Germain d'Auxerre and Wolf of Troyes. The young girl, a future patron saint of Paris, acquired lasting spiritual importance, attracting pilgrims like Saint Louis or Louis XIII. The site also housed a Sainte-Geneviève chapel, built around the eleventh century on the saint's family house and its miraculous well, renowned for healing.

In the Middle Ages, the church of Saint-Maurice, partially destroyed during the conflicts (fire of 1346 by the English, ravages of the Armagnacs in 1411), was rebuilt at the end of the 15th century under the impulse of the parish priest Jean Gaillard. The current bell tower, the only vestige of this period, dates from the 14th century and has been classified as a historical monument since 1975. The Revolution briefly transformed the building into the Temple of Reason, before it returned to Catholic worship. In the 19th century, the pilgrimage resumed in scope, leading to the reconstruction of the chapel of Sainte-Geneviève in 1880 and to plans to renovate the church, considered too old.

The major reconstruction took place between 1924 and 1937, initiated by Canon Jules Froidevaux, who wished to erect a large basilica of pilgrimage worthy of Saint Geneviève. Architects Georges Pradelle and Yves-Marie Froidevaux designed a Romano-Byzantin building, adorned with an exceptional ensemble of frescoes (more than 1,000 m2) directed by Paul Baudoüin and his students. These works, made between 1926 and 1937, illustrate the life of the saint, the Beatitudes, and Gospel parables, forming a coherent iconographic program. Only the expected nave was never built, due to the death of Coldevaux (1943) and post-war constraints.

The church became cathedral in 1966 with the creation of the diocese of Nanterre, corresponding to the new department of Hauts-de-Seine. The 1970s saw the demolition of the old nave and the construction of a modern porch with a monumental door by Pierre Sabatier (1974). Archaeological excavations revealed merovingian sarcophagus. Between 2012 and 2013, an integral restoration (5 million euros) restored to the building, including the renovation of the organ (1974) and the addition of a mosaic of Marko Rupnik on the parvis (2017). Today, the cathedral combines medieval heritage, art deco, and modernity, while remaining an active place of pilgrimage, especially in January.

The interior decor is distinguished by its frescoes, such as that of the Sacred Heart (Leon Toublanc) where Saint Geneviève and Saint Jeanne d'Arc frame Christ, or the Gospel parables of the walk. The stained glass windows, signed Louis Barillet (Passion of Christ) and Paul Buffet (Life of the Virgin), complete this artistic ensemble. The crypt, the side chapels (including that dedicated to Saint Maurice and the soldiers of 14-18), and the statuary (like the 14th century Notre-Dame-des-Champs) bear witness to the rich heritage of the site. Finally, the cathedral remains an identity symbol for Nanterre, the birthplace of her patron saint.

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