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Origin and history

The Saint-Étienne church, dedicated to protomartyr Étienne, is a Catholic parish church located in Chilly-Mazarin, Essonne department, Île-de-France. Located in the old city centre, on the north side of the Yvette Valley, it follows a classic plan with a five-span nave, a circular choir and two collaterals. Its square bell tower, rebuilt in 1626, dominates the building, while its interior contains remarkable elements such as woodwork of the priory Saint-Éloi and statues of Laurent Magnier.

The church was built between the 12th and 13th centuries, with major changes in the 16th century. In 1613 King Louis XIII attended a Mass, and in 1628 the adjacent cemetery was transferred. During the French Revolution, the building was transformed into a temple of Reason (1796) and suffered symbolic degradation. Partially classified as historical monuments in 1923 (indoor) and 1987 (facades and roofs), the church received a restoration in 1974 and a donation from Prince Albert II of Monaco in 2014 for its renovation.

The building preserves artistic treasures: a altarpiece decorated with a painting by Simon Vouet (1639), a statue of Saint Roch from the 15th century, and an arm of light in bronze style Louis XV. The cenotaph of Martin Ruzé de Beaulieu (17th century) and the statues of the Virgin and Saint John (1690), from the priory of Saint-Éloi, highlight his sculptural heritage. A stained glass window bears the coat of arms of Albert I of Monaco, a historical link with the Mazarin family, duchess of the region.

The church is also marked by funeral events: Michel II Gaillard and his wife Sovereign of Angoulême, half-sister of Francis I, were buried there in the sixteenth century. The Antoinette bell, installed in 1632, was recast in 1865 to create two bells. These elements illustrate its central role in the religious and community life of Chilly-Mazarin, between medieval heritage and modern transformations.

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