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Origin and history

The Saint-Martin church of Triel-sur-Seine, located in the Yvelines in Île-de-France, is a religious building marked by four major construction phases: the 2nd quarter of the 13th century for its primitive Gothic nave, the 15th century for its flamboyant Gothic enlargements, and the 3rd quarter of the 16th century for its Renaissance choir and stroll. Originally, the church followed a regular cruciform plan, but the successive extensions, including the addition of a second south side and a northern chapel at the end of the 15th century, complicated its architecture. The vaults of the nave, collapsed shortly after their construction in the 13th century, were rebuilt in the 14th century in a radiant Gothic style, characterized by an elegant triforium and high windows with delicate networks.

In the 16th century, during the reign of Henry II, a new Renaissance choir was erected east of the Gothic building, wider and equipped with a walk-through, but less elevated. This choir is distinguished by its sober and innovative style for the period, avoiding the excess ornamentation common in Renaissance religious architecture. A notable feature is the passage of a street under its first span, as well as the presence of a crypt in the hemicycle under the walkway. Ranked a Historical Monument in 1862 for its artistic value, the church was saved in extremis in 1911 after the risk of a collapse of the nave, then restored again in the 1970s.

Inside the church reveals a superimposition of architectural styles. The nave, narrow and slender, preserves 13th-century monocylindrical pillars and a radiating triforium from the 14th, while the flamboyant 15th-century bas-coasts and chapels display arches with complex profiles and windows with trilobed networks. The Renaissance choir, on the other hand, adopts Corinthian columns and ground entanglements, with vaults embellished with sculpted ivy and medallions. The stained glass windows, mostly dating from the 16th century, illustrate biblical and hagiographic scenes with a bright colour, such as the Crucifixion (1554) or the Tree of Jesse.

The exterior, mainly marked by Renaissance additions, features an up-to-date balustrade on the south side and foothills decorated with pinacles. The modern bell tower, considered dissonant, contrasts with the nobility of Gothic and Renaissance elevations. Despite partial restorations, the church retains traces of its turbulent history, such as the 19th-century bow-buttons or the temporary stone walls of the Gothic choir. Today, it remains an active place of worship, welcoming Masses and Eucharistic celebrations almost daily.

The parish of Triel, mentioned in the 11th century, once depended on the archdiocese of Rouen. After the Revolution, it was attached to the diocese of Versailles. The Church of Saint Martin, a spiritual and community centre, houses classified furniture, including a 17th century lutrin and 15th and 16th century statues. Its history reflects the architectural and liturgical developments of Ile-de-France, while at the same time attesting to the conservation challenges faced by historical monuments.

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