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Origin and history

The Saint-Frambourg collegiate of Senlis was founded at the end of the 10th century by Queen Adelaide of Aquitaine, wife of Hugues Capet, as royal chapel dedicated to Saint Fraimbault. It replaced a demolished Carolingian church to build a pre-Roman building, then a Gothic collegiate from 1169. This monument, reserved for the royal family and for a chapter of twelve canons appointed by the king, housed prestigious relics and symbolized Capetian power in Senlis, the strategic city of the royal domain.

The Gothic construction, completed around 1230, followed a simple but ambitious plan: a single 46-metre-long vessel, without bottoms or transept, illuminated by high bays and vaulted with sexpartites. The construction site took place in two fields (1169–1200 and 1205–1230), with an interruption marked by a change of pattern. The bell tower, originally planned as a building to the north of the facade, was only completed in the 13th century thanks to papal indulgences. The building, closed to the Revolution and transformed into a temple of Reason, was sold as a national property in 1794.

In the 19th century, the college served as a ride, a workshop, and then a warehouse, suffering major damage: demolition of the bell tower in the 1820s, partial collapse of the roof in 1914, and occupation by a bodywork after 1945. Ranked a historic monument in 1862, it did not benefit from any restoration until its acquisition in 1973 by pianist György Cziffra. Under the impulse of André Malraux, he transformed it into an auditorium (opened in 1977), revealing during excavations the remains of the Carolingian church and the pre-Roman collegiate.

The archaeological excavations of 1974, carried out by Jean-Michel Desbordes, brought to light the foundations of the 10th century church, a Gallo-Roman tower, and canon burials. A pseudo-crypt was designed to preserve these remains, accessible to the public. The restoration work (1976–2002) gave the building its medieval appearance: reconstruction of the multicolored roof in varnished tiles, restoration of the vaults, and installation of contemporary stained glass windows signed by Joan Miró. Since 2016, the Cziffra Foundation, the owner of the premises, has organized concerts, festivals and exhibitions.

The architecture of Saint-Frambourg is distinguished by its spatial unity and abundant light, characteristic of royal chapels. The unique vessel, vaulted with sexpartites, rests on batteries alternately strong and weak, but without bottoms or triforium, creating a clean volume. The western façade, dominated by a rose of 9 m in diameter (inspired by Mello), incorporates a triplet and a narrow portal with carved archvolts. Outside, the massive foothills and lancet windows highlight verticality, while the abside, pierced with relic niches, evokes a fortress.

Today, the Saint-Frambourg college combines heritage and culture. The auditorium Franz-Liszt, with exceptional acoustics, welcomes classical performances and young talents. The Cziffra Foundation, recognized as a public utility, perpetuates this place as a " temple of beauty", between historical memory and artistic creation, while preserving the archaeological remains accessible under the building.

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