Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Louis de Villemomble, located in Place de la République, replaces a former medieval building dedicated to Saint Genès, destroyed in 1660 and replaced in 1699 by a church on Rue d'Avron, which was disused in 1901. The construction of the new church began in 1901 on land offered in 1887 by Louis-Constantin Detouche, former mayor and benefactor of the commune. It includes a stone cross of the 15th century, vestige of a medieval calvary located near the former church of Saint-Genès-Saint-Louis.

Designed by architect Georges Dumont, the church is distinguished by its metal structure and millstones. In 1926, the 56-metre bell tower, by Paul Tournon and decorated with sculptures by Carlo Sarrabezolles, was added to the building. This bell tower, built of concrete, brick and mill, becomes a local symbol. The church was partially listed for historical monuments in 1996, before its bell tower was classified in August 2023.

The chapel of Saint-Genest, adjacent to the church, was erected in 1958 by the Work of the Cardinal's Buildings under the direction of architect Sorin. It pays tribute to the old Saint-Genès church destroyed in the 17th century and was restored in 2013. In front of the church, the square of Verdun houses a monument to the deaths of the First World War, highlighting its anchoring in local collective memory.

The building illustrates the architectural and religious evolution of Villemomble, mixing medieval heritage, technical innovations of the 20th century and modern commemorations. Its status as a historic monument and its present role in the Catholic parish of the diocese of Saint-Denis make it a major historic place of Seine-Saint-Denis.

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