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Origin and history

The Collège Notre-Dame de Vernon, located in the Eure in Normandy, is a religious building whose origins date back to the late 11th century. Consecrated in 1099 by the bishop of Evreux, it was built on the remains of a pagan temple. Its architecture combines Romanesque styles (chorus and apse) and Gothic (nef, facade, walk-through), with Renaissance additions such as the door of sacristy. The college was a temporary episcopal place in the 14th century after the fire of Evreux, then undergoing major transformations until the 17th century, including the raising of the ground in 1658 to counter the floods of the Seine.

The western façade, completed in the 14th and 15th centuries, has a rose inspired by the Sainte-Chapelle de Vincennes and a portal dedicated to the Virgin, whose statues were hammered during the Revolution. Inside, the Romanesque choir contrasts with the Gothic nave, decorated with modern stained glass windows replacing those destroyed in 1944. The college also houses notable works of art, such as a 16th century altarpiece, a Renaissance mausoleum, and 17th century classified organs, restored after damage caused by the Second World War.

The college was a major place of worship, becoming the " temple of Reason" during the Revolution, before being restored in the 19th century by Felix Leclerc of Pulligny. She inspired artists like Claude Monet, who painted it several times between 1883 and 1894. Today, it remains a symbol of Vernon heritage, combining medieval history, Renaissance transformations and contemporary restorations.

The walkway, one of the first Gothic style in Normandy (circa 1160), and the lateral chapels added between the 14th and 16th centuries, illustrate the architectural evolution of the monument. The unfinished 13th century tower, gargoyles and bow-buttons recall its medieval heritage, while modern stained glass windows, like those of Jacques Bony (1975), interact with the rare fragments of the 16th century preserved.

The Seine floods marked the history of the college, as evidenced by an inscription of 1658 indicating the level of the waters. During World War II, the bombings of 1940 and 1944 destroyed its stained glass windows, now replaced by contemporary creations. Ranked in 1862, the college continues to play a cultural role, with organ concerts and exhibitions, perpetuating its link with the Vernon community.

Finally, the furniture of the college, including paintings attributed to Annibale Carracci and Claude Vignon, as well as sculptures such as that of Saint Adjutor, patron of Vernon, reflects his artistic importance. The organs, built in 1610 and restored in the 20th century, are an exceptional testimony of the French Baroque bill, still in use during ceremonies and concerts.

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