Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Aubin de Limay, located in the Yvelines in Île-de-France, is a religious building whose oldest parts date back to the 1140s. At that time, it consisted of a unique nave not arched and a two-span Romanesque choir, the first of which served as the base for the bell tower. This late Romanesque choir was extended by a single nave demolished in the late seventeenth century. The construction continues around 1230 with the construction, north of the Romanesque church, of a square choir hall and a double vaulted nave, in a Gothic style. These additions radically transform the building, which then adopts an atypical plan for the region.

The first two spans of the double nave, as well as the western gate, were rebuilt in the late 15th or early 16th century, in the flamboyant style, after the damage suffered during the Hundred Years War. The stone arrow of the bell tower, originally built in the 13th century, is entirely rebuilt in the early 20th century according to its original model. The church was listed as a historical monument in 1944, recognizing its architectural and historical value. Its furniture, including statues, 13th century baptismal fonts and medieval funeral monuments, bears witness to its rich past.

The interior of the church reveals a homogeneous double nave, although the supports and vaults have stylistic variations between the Gothic and flamboyant parts. The choir-halle, rare in the Vexin, is characterized by monocylindrical pillars and capitals carved from vine leaves and dirum. The two Romanesque vaults of the old choir, prior to 1150, are among the oldest in the region. They are decorated with water and acanthe leaves, and uncarved vault keys. These elements, although partially restored, remain valuable testimonies of Romanesque architecture in the north of Ile-de-France.

The outside of the church, marked by radical restorations, nevertheless retains remarkable elements such as the western gate and the bell tower. The portal, a flamboyant inspiration, combines late radiating stints with archvolts carved with pamps and roses. The bell tower, typical of the Romanesque buildings of the Vexin, has three floors, including the belfry floor decorated with columns and nail heads. The octagonal arrow, rebuilt in 1906, is confined to lanterns and peaks at 41 meters. These architectural details highlight the stylistic evolution of the building, from Romanesque origins to Gothic and flamboyant additions.

The church furniture includes rooms classified as historical monuments, such as a 12th century Virgin with Child, now preserved at the cathedral of Versailles, and a 14th century gissant representing Thomas Le Tourneur, canon and adviser to Charles V. A 16th century funeral monument, dedicated to Jean Chenu and his wife Jeanne de Ver, comes from the former convent of the Celestines of Limay. These works, as well as the 13th century baptismal fonts decorated with greasy leaves and medallions, illustrate the historical and artistic importance of the building. The organ, installed in 1844 and restored in the 21st century, completes this heritage complex.

The Saint-Aubin church, today in the heart of a parish of sixteen communes, remains an active place of worship, with Sunday Masses and weekday celebrations. Its history reflects the architectural and religious transformations of the region, from the Middle Ages to the contemporary era. Classified for its original design, Romanesque vaults and furniture, it is a major testimony of the religious heritage of the French Vexin.

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