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Origin and history

The Church of Notre-Dame d'Orry-la-Ville, located in the Oise department in the Hauts-de-France region, is a Catholic building whose oldest parts date from 1160 to 1170. His choir, influenced by Senlis Cathedral, has early Gothic features, while his apse in the hemicycle retains Romanesque features. Originally, the village of Geni, the historical core of the commune, housed a parish church, but its depopulation in the 13th century led to the creation of the parish of Orry-la-Ville in 1246, when the parish of Geni was abolished and attached to that of Orry-la-Ville.

The nave, initially un vaulted and devoid of low side, was modified in the 16th century with the addition of a south side and a vault of flamboyant Gothic-style warheads. The chapel of the Virgin, also of flamboyant style, was added to the north of the last span of the nave and the first span of the choir. The bell tower, in frame, dates only from the beginning of the thirteenth century. The church, of sober appearance, was inscribed in historical monuments in 1970 and restored several times, notably after fires and acts of vandalism in the 21st century.

Notre Dame Church is marked by a complex parish history, linked to the evolution of surrounding villages such as Geni and La Chapelle-en-Serval. Its furniture, although modest, includes a Renaissance altarpiece housing a 14th century Virgin with Child and tombstones dating back to the 17th century. The building, still in liturgical activity, is part of the parish of the Holy Spirit of the Serval and hosts weekly Sunday Masses.

Architecturally, the church is distinguished by its dissymmetric plan, with a nave of three spans, a choir with an apse in hemicycle, and later added lateral chapels. The exterior, sober, is characterized by simple buttresses and windows in full hanger or broken arch. The western gate, decorated with columns and an archvolt, is the most elaborate element of the façade. Inside, the choir, though modest, presents a quality sculpture, especially on capitals, reflecting the beginnings of Gothic architecture.

The church has undergone several modifications over the centuries, notably in the 19th century with the construction of a tower in structure and the repair of the slate roof. A bell, melted in 1871, bears the names of the parish priests and local notables of the time. In the 20th century, restorations were undertaken, including after arson attacks in 2008 and 2009, which led to the permanent closure of the building outside the celebrations. Youth projects, organized by the Concordia association, allowed the restoration of the northern elevation between 2011 and 2013.

Today, the Church of Notre-Dame d'Orry-la-Ville remains an active place of worship, integrated into a wider parish due to the decrease in the number of priests. It bears witness to the religious and architectural history of the region, mixing Romanesque and Gothic influences, and reflecting the evolution of local communities since the Middle Ages.

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