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Origin and history

The collegiate Saint-Martin d'Étampes, dedicated to Saint Martin de Tours, finds its origins in a distant past, some authors even suggesting a foundation by Clovis. In the 11th century it was a prosperous collegiate with twelve canons, but in 1106 King Philip I gave it to the abbey of Morigny, resulting in conflicts that led to the expulsion of the canons in 1142. The abbey then established a priory and began the construction of a new, larger church, whose work began around 1142 by the bedside.

The architecture of the college reflects major influences, such as those of the Cathedral of Sens and the Basilica of Vézelay. The bedside, with its walk-by and three radiant chapels, surprises by its plan evoking the 11th century, although the vault of warheads is already present. The bows, a rare innovation for the time, made their appearance in the middle of the 12th century, thanks to the links between Abbé de Morigny and the Abbey of Saint-Denis, where Suger introduced this technique. The nave, completed around 1170, is organized on three levels, inspired by Sens, and an additional span is added after 1213.

In the 16th century, notable changes were made: the vaults of the choir and transept were rebuilt under the influence of the flamboyant Gothic style, as evidenced by the arch keys decorated with the weapons of Anne de Bretagne and her daughter Claude. An imposing bell tower, inclined westward due to a settlement of land, was erected between 1530 and 1537, and the building was known as the "Northern Pisa". In the 18th century, collapses in the nave led to the replacement of vaults by wooden structures, while the priory, reduced to a mere profit, was abolished in 1781.

The collegiate church, classified as a historic monument in 1909 after controversial restorations in the 19th century, had several works to preserve its structure. Between 1872 and 1876, the western facade and the first span of the nave were rebuilt, although these interventions were criticized for their lack of historical fidelity. Despite these hazards, the building retains remarkable elements, such as its primitive bow-buttons, carved capitals and furniture, including funerary slabs and classified statues.

The furniture of the college includes notable pieces, such as a classified Renaissance funerary slab, 17th and 18th century statues (some stolen in 1974), and a glass window of 1879 representing the apparition of the Virgin to Bernadette Soubirous. The church, still active for worship, also houses 13th century baptismal fonts and an 18th century marble high altar. Its history reflects the religious and political upheavals of the region, from the wars of Religion to the French Revolution.

Today, the collegiate Saint-Martin d'Étampes is distinguished by its hybrid architecture, combining primitive Romanesque and Gothic, and its continuous role in parish life. Its bent bell tower, its pioneering bow-buttons and its radiant bedside bear witness to medieval innovation, while its successive restorations illustrate the challenges of preserving heritage throughout the centuries.

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