Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame-des-Vertus, located in Aubervilliers, Seine-Saint-Denis, is a religious building dating back to the 13th century with a first church dedicated to Saint Christophe. In 1336, a miracle attributed to a statue of the Virgin Mary – a saving rain ending a devastating drought – transformed the place into an important pilgrimage sanctuary. Kings and saints, attracted by the reported healings, flock to this church, requiring its reconstruction in the 15th century in a radiant Gothic style.

In the 16th century, the church was enlarged with a massive tower of 30 meters (1541), then the nave was extended between 1616 and 1621. A classical facade, adorned with a statue of the Virgin, was added in 1628. The organ, created by Pierre Pescheur between 1630 and 1635, with its oak buffet decorated with harpies, bears witness to the artistic richness of the period. The church, sacked during the Paris Commune, was restored by parish priest Laurent Amodru (1872-1886), who added an arrow later destroyed by a fire in 1900.

The stained glass windows, destroyed in 1918 and rebuilt by the House Champigneulle in 1919, tell the miracles associated with Notre-Dame-des-Vertus, such as the Miracle of Rain (1336) or the healings of illustrious pilgrims, including the Marshal of Toulouse. The pilgrimage, restored in 1866, has attracted faithful since the 14th century, with indulgences granted by William of Estouteville in 1452. The original statue of the Virgin, burned in 1793, was replaced in 1873 by a linden copy, surrounded by 16th century angels.

Ranked a historic monument in 1908, the church also houses ex-votos, such as those of prisoners of the Commune released in 1871. His organ, restored in 1987 to return to its 1780 state, was inaugurated in 1990 by Michel Chapuis. The stained glass windows of the southern collateral celebrate figures such as Saint Jeanne d'Arc or Louis XIII, who offered Notre-Dame-des-Victoires to Aubervilliers. Today, the church remains an active place of worship and a major witness to the religious heritage of francil.

External links