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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Saturnin church of Champigny-sur-Marne, located in Val-de-Marne, is mentioned from the 11th century. In 1067, it was given to the priory of Saint Martin-des-Champs by Archdeacon Joscelyn, a donation confirmed in 1085 by the bishop of Paris. In 1119, Pope Calixte II validated his possessions, including the altar and tithe of Champigny. The first visible constructions date from the end of the 12th century, like the base of the bell tower and the western gate, before the addition of a chaplain in 1200.

In the 13th century, the choir and nave were built in a Gothic style, while the bell tower, rebuilt in the 17th century, was restored after the damage of the 1870 war. In 1835, the adjoining cemetery was moved. The church underwent several restoration campaigns: after 1870, with a decoration painted in 1877, then around 1980 for the interior and in 1985 for the facade. The stained-glass windows, works by Antoine Lusson (1855-1858), and the furniture (baptism of the 17th century, bench of work of the 16th) bear witness to his rich heritage.

Ranked a historic monument in 1913, the church combines Romanesque influences (Western gate, bell tower base) and Gothic influences (voûts, arcades). Its elongated plan includes a central nave and two collaterals, completed by chapels dedicated to Saint Geneviève and the Virgin. A mural by Theobald Chartran (1877), representing the Martyr of St.Saturnin, disappeared after 1926. The building remains a symbol of the Franciscan religious and architectural heritage.

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