Origin and history
The Collège Notre-Dame de Mantes-la-Jolie, built from the 4th quarter of the 12th century until the 14th century, embodies the climax of Gothic art in Île-de-France. Classified as a historic monument in 1840, it was inspired by the cathedrals of Paris and Laon, with a nave on three levels (large arcades, stands, high windows) and sexpartite vaults. Its western facade, adorned with three carved gates and a rose, was profoundly remodeled in the 19th century, notably by architect Alphonse Durand, a pupil of Viollet-le-Duc, who rebuilt the north tower to the same extent as the south tower between 1851 and 1855.
The construction began around 1150 with the lower parts of the facade and the lateral walls, followed by the elevation of the stands and high bays before 1200. The radiant chapels, absent from the original project, were added to the 13th to 14th centuries, including the chapel of Navarre founded in 1313 by Marie de Brabant, wife of Philip III the Hardi. The portal of the Echevins, erected in 1320, was ransacked during the Revolution, as much of the statuary. The building, transformed into "the temple of Reason" and later into a saltpetre factory, underwent major restorations in the 19th and 21st centuries, including the roof in varnished tiles re-established in 2001–2002.
The portals of the college illustrate the stylistic evolution of the Gothic: the portal of the Resurrection (circa 1150), archaic inspiration, contrasts with the portal of the Virgin, sculptural masterpiece of the years 1160–80, and the portal of the Achevins (1320), marked by the radiant Gothic. The nave, among the highest of the 12th century (28.77 m), competes with Notre-Dame de Paris by its elevation to three levels and its innovative vaults. The rose of the last judgment (c. 1210), one of the oldest in France, and the stained glass windows of the Navarre chapel testify to the artistic richness of the monument.
During the Hundred Years' War, the college was fortified by Charles of Navarre (1351), sheltering wells and mills. Damaged by the 1944 bombings, it benefited from ongoing restoration campaigns, such as the North façade in 2012. Its roof, decorated with swastika motifs (replaced in 2001), and its 44,650 varnished tiles highlight its unique architectural heritage. In 2012, the town hall launched an application for UNESCO World Heritage Registration.
The dimensions of the college (67.70 m long, 29,90 m high under vaults) reflect its ambition, close to that of Senlis Cathedral. The master builders Eudes de Montreuil and Pierre de Montereau, mentioned in the sources, participated in its construction. The 19th century restorations, sometimes criticized for their stylistic interpretation (such as the symmetrical reconstruction of the towers), were aimed at restoring a "primitive" state inspired by Viollet-le-Duc's theories. Today, the college remains a symbol of Mantian heritage, mixing royal history, Gothic innovations and resilience to conflict.
The Navarre Chapel, founded in 1313, preserves traces of medieval polychromy and Navarre weapons (red on yellow background). Recent excavations and restorations revealed fragments of revolutionary statues, now exposed to the Museum of the Hotel-Dieu of Mantes-la-Jolie. The monument, owned by the commune, continues to fascinate with its mixture of influences (Chartres, Paris, Laon) and its central role in local history, from the canon of the 11th century to the bombings of the Second World War.
Announcements
Please log in to post a review