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Origin and history

The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption of Vaureal, located in Val-d-Oise, has its origins in the 13th century: the parish is erected in 1253, detached from that of Jouy-le-Moutier. The first church, built around 1250, was burned in 1432 by the English during the Hundred Years War. After decades of population decline (only 15 fires in 1470), its reconstruction began at the end of the 15th century in a flamboyant Gothic style, without initial Renaissance influence.

The new church was consecrated in 1561 by the bishop of Philadelphia, the agent of the bishop of Paris, although the vaults of the nave and the lower side were never completed. The bell tower and façade, Renaissance style, are added later. The building, inscribed in the Historical Monuments in 1926, illustrates the sober architecture of post-war reconstructions, with notable furniture elements such as a statue of Saint John the Baptist (XIVth–XVth century) classified in 1996.

The church, originally dedicated to the Virgin, added Saint Maur as second patron in the 16th century to create a local feast. After the Revolution, the parish was attached to the diocese of Versailles (1801), then to Pontoise (1966). Today, it shares its liturgical function with the modern Church of St. Clair, built in 1995 in the new city, relegating Notre-Dame to a secondary role (Dominical Masses at 6 p.m.).

The building is distinguished by its simple plan (nave to low side, flat choir without transept) and its sober interior decor, including carved arch keys and 16th century woodwork. The furniture also includes a painting of the Assumption (1830, by François Nicolas-Louis Gosse), restored in 1997, and copies of masters (Mignard, Carracci). The bell tower, after the nave, has Renaissance bays and a tower of staircase with a dome.

The church's location, confined to the old village of Vaureal, reflects its history: bordered by National Street (RD 55) and close to the old castle (destroyed by the Revolution), it dominates a hillside of the Highlands. Its small square, lined with retaining walls, and its narrow alleyways limit the overall visibility, preserving its intimate character.

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