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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame de Taverny, built between 1200 and 1240 under the leadership of Mathieu II de Montmorency and his son Bouchard, embodies the culmination of Gothic architecture in Île-de-France. Its cruciform plan, its elevation on three levels (large arcades, triforium, high windows) and its seven-sided bedside reflect a desire to compete with the great cathedrals of the time. The careful decoration, the carved capitals and the plated arches underline the prestige of its sponsors, while the absence of major changes preserves its stylistic unit.

In the 15th century, flamboyant modifications (high windows, rosace of the southern crusillon) and a careful restoration in the 19th century, led by Maurice Ouradou and then Alphonse Simil, saved the building from ruin after its classification to historical monuments in 1846. The Renaissance altarpiece offered by Anne de Montmorency, the stained glass remodeled after the originals and the statue of Notre-Dame de Taverny (11th century) are among its treasures. The church, still parish, dominates the city from an artificial terrace, recalling its historical link with the seigneurial castle of Montmorency.

The foundation of the church is part of a political and religious strategy of the Montmorency, which had annexed Taverny to the 11th century despite the rights of Saint-Denis Abbey. The legend attributes to Blanche de Castille the laying of the first stone, although no written source confirms it. The southern portal, known as the door of King John (1335), offered by Philip VI of Valois for the healing of his son, illustrates the links between the monarchy and this powerful family. The French Revolution partially spared the building, despite the destruction of the stained glass windows and its transformation into the Temple of Reason.

The interior architecture, marked by a nave of 17 meters high, an uninterrupted triforium and arches on crossed warheads, makes it a radiant Gothic model. The chapels, dedicated to Notre-Dame and Saint Barthélemy, and the apse with hemicircular bedside add to its singularity. Exteriorly, the western façade, the bows and the bedside with openwork foothills reveal an exceptional technical mastery. The restorations of the 19th century, though controversial, preserved its authenticity, as evidenced by the capitals that did not debride.

The classified furniture, including a 16th-century organ buffet with carved panels telling of the martyrdom of Saint Barthélemy, a Renaissance altarpiece and funerary slabs of Montmorency, enriches its heritage. The statue of Notre-Dame de Taverny (11th century), stolen and found in 1975, symbolizes its spiritual and artistic importance. Today, the church remains an active place of worship and a major testimony of the medieval history of France, open to visitors and faithful.

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