Origin and history
The collegiate Saint-Martin de Champeaux found its origins in a priory founded in the seventh century, possibly by Saint Fare (600-657), daughter of the Count of Meaux. This monastery, mentioned in chronicles as an abbey from the 11th century, was transformed into a chapter of secular canons at the beginning of the 12th century under the authority of the bishop of Paris. The construction of the present college began around 1160, initiated by a chapter of twelve canons which became twenty-three in 1208. Its construction site, marked by interruptions (especially between 1220 and 1270), spreads over more than a century, reflecting the financial difficulties and architectural ambitions of the chapter.
The building, of primitive Gothic style, is inspired by the cathedrals of Paris and Sens, with a nave with sexpartite vaults and a choir completed only in the fourteenth century. Despite its austerity (absence of triforium, simple windows), the college is distinguished by its dimensions (65 m long) and the quality of its capitals, carved with floral motifs. The glass windows, dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries, and the Renaissance stalls (1522), works by carpenter Richard Falaise, are among his artistic jewels. The French Revolution dissolved the chapter in 1790, transforming the church into a parish and saving the building from destruction.
Ranked a historic monument in 1840, the college underwent major restorations from 1891, led by architect Auguste Louzier, who saved the building from imminent ruin. Restoration campaigns continued throughout the 20th century, with interventions on vaults, stained glass windows and facades, often carried out by local associations such as the Friends of the College. Today, the monument retains its cult vocation within the parish pole of Mormant, while welcoming cultural events, such as the annual music festival.
The history of the college is also marked by violent episodes, such as the looting by Condé's troops during the Fronde (1652), where archives, sacred vases and furniture were destroyed. The canons, lords of Champeaux, played a central role in local life, obtaining notably the release of serfs in 1162. Their decline in the sixteenth century, due to the wars of Religion, reduced their number to twelve in 1594. The village of Champeaux, once prosperous thanks to its fair (created in 1338) and its Hôtel-Dieu (1457), lost its status as capital city with the Revolution.
Architecturally, the college presents a homogeneous nave (1180-1210) contrasting with a later choir (1270-1350), where radiating influences mix with archaic elements, such as the flat bedside without radiant chapels. The lower sides, vaulted ridges, and the open-worked walkway of reamped bays illustrate the successive adaptations of the original project. The stained glass windows, classified as historical monuments, offer a panorama of flamboyant and Renaissance glass art, with biblical scenes and local donors.
Among the treasures of furniture, the 54 stalls of the sixteenth century, classified in 1902, are distinguished by their mercies carved from satirical or biblical scenes (such as the history of Job), while the funeral slabs of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, classified in 1955, bear witness to the memory of the canons and benefactors. The college also houses remarkable statues, such as a 13th century Saint Denis cephalophore, and a classified baroque altarpiece. Its bell tower, inspired by Notre-Dame de Paris, dominates a fortified façade in the 15th century, recalling the disturbances of the Hundred Years' War.
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