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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Cyr-Sainte-Julitte, located in Villejuif in Val-de-Marne, is dedicated to two Christian martyrs of the fourth century: Saint Cyr and his mother Saint Julitte. Founded in the 13th century, it underwent a major renovation in 1535, with the addition of cutstone and rubble. Its bell tower, marked by the inscription "Memento mori 1549", bears witness to this period of reconstruction. The building combines flamboyant Gothic elements (bottom-side vaulted in the early 16th century) and Renaissance influences, especially in the vault keys.

Between 1539 and 1555, the bell tower and the first two spans of the nave were built under the direction of master mason Cosme de Barly, while the choir was rebuilt between 1582 and 1584 by Hugues Delafons and Louis Raille. Subsequent works (covering in 1664, paving in 1669) and structural repairs (walls of the lower side in 1827) punctuate his history. In 1870 the church was occupied by the Communards, and its bell tower, damaged during the fighting, was restored between 1981 and 1988. Ranked a historic monument in 1928, it houses an organ signed by Loret and Cavaillé-Coll, as well as the stained glass windows of Louis-Charles-Marie Champigneulle.

The church is also marked by recent tragic events: in 2015, an Islamist bombing project is foiled in extremis, recalling post-2015 security tensions in France. Its central role in local life, from the closure of the cemetery in 1823 to its present use, makes it a symbol of the religious and historical heritage of Villejuif.

Architecturally, the nave has a false vault in a glass crib, while the sides and the choir are vaulted in piles of load. The capitals of the northern pillars, dated from the 13th century, contrast with those of the 15th century to the south, illustrating the stylistic evolutions of the building. The arch keys, oscillating between flamboyant Gothic and Renaissance, reflect this artistic transition.

Owned by the municipality, the church remains an active place of worship and a testimony to the urban and social transformations of the city, from the Old Regime to the contemporary era.

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