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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church Notre-Dame-de-la-Pitié de Puteaux is built on the initiative of the Abbé de Saint-Germain-des-Prés, at the request of the villagers dependent on the abbey. In 1509, the decision was taken to erect a chapel, which would be consecrated in 1523 by François de Poncher, bishop of Paris. Originally attached to the parish of Suresnes, it became a branch in 1573, then a parish church in 1717. His 16th century stained glass windows, classified in 1886, are among his treasures, including works attributed to the glassmaker Jacques Rousseau.

In the 19th century, architect Paul Eugène Lequeux completely restored the building, adding a new facade. However, the church was abandoned in 1939 for the benefit of St.Mathilde's church, and its bell tower collapsed in 1954. Threatened by destruction in 1962, it was finally listed as a historic monument in 1975. Its stained glass windows, transferred to the Château de Champs-sur-Marne, were resettled after a complete restoration, allowing its reopening to worship in 1985.

In 2015, a controversy broke out following controversial painting by the town hall without consulting the heritage authorities. The Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs (DRAC) intervenes and the municipality acknowledges its error. A one-year restoration, estimated at EUR 500 000, is then undertaken to restore the original aspect. The church, owned by the commune, remains an active place of worship, with Sunday Masses outside the school holidays.

The building is distinguished by its sober architecture: a rectangular nave ended with a polygonal apse, without transept or low side. Its bedside, visible from the Seine, is backed by the Quai De Dion-Bouton. The Renaissance stained glass windows, including the Assumption of the Virgin (1558) and the Pentecost, illustrate its exceptional artistic heritage. A stained glass window, the Baptism of Christ, has disappeared.

The church also served as the setting for the film A so long absence (1961), shot while she was abandoned. Today, it embodies both a place of historical memory and a symbol of the preservation of religious heritage in Île-de-France.

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