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Origin and history

The Saint-Germain-de-Paris church of Cléry-en-Vexin, located in the Val-d'Oise department, is a composite building whose oldest parts (chœur, transept and bell tower) date back to the early thirteenth century. These elements, of primitive Gothic style, contrast with the nave and its sides, built in the sixteenth century in a flamboyant Gothic Renaissance style. The bell tower, slender and characteristic of the churches of the Vexin, would have inspired that of Auvers-sur-Oise, while the western portal, richly carved, is attributed to the architect Robert Grappin, also active in Serans and Chaumont-en-Vexin.

The foundation of the parish may date back to the seventh century, under the patronage of Saint Germain of Paris, bishop who died in 576. Under the Ancien Régime, the church depended on the abbey Saint-Martin of Pontoise, to which it was given around 1099 by the lords Deliès. A local legend combines its construction with the wish of Agnes de Montfort in 1156, although the preserved parts were not before the 13th century. The nave, built in the second quarter of the 16th century, incorporates Renaissance elements, especially in the south side, where the Corinthian capitals and the pending key vaults mark this stylistic transition.

The building has undergone changes and losses over the centuries. In 1887 the wooden vantals of the western gate, carved of Renaissance medallions, were sold. A controversial restoration at the end of the 19th century erased medieval inscriptions and taskron marks at the base of the bell tower. The cemetery surrounding the church, transferred in 1903, was once a central place in the village, as evidenced by traces of fire and missing burial plates. Ranked a historic monument in 1929, the church is now affiliated with the pastoral area of the western Vexin, with offices irregularly celebrated.

The interior reveals an elegant nave with wavy pillars, typical of the flamboyant Gothic, and vaults decorated with Renaissance motifs. The older choir and transept preserve 13th century, partially polychrome, warhead vaults. The furniture, on the other hand, is now modest: only a statue of the Virgin and Child of the 14th century, classified in 1907, attests to the artistic heritage of the past. The stained glass windows, retables and sculptural details, such as the angel musicians of the portal or the pendant arch keys, highlight the stylistic duality of the building.

Outside, the western facade, dominated by a flamboyant Gothic portal, is a sculptural masterpiece. The foothills, bell towers and balustrades add to its monumental character, while the building bell tower, 33 meters high, remains an emblematic example of Vexino religious architecture. The oriental parts, more sober, contrast with the decorative richness of the nave and the sides. The church, although modest in its size, thus embodies almost five centuries of architectural and religious history in Île-de-France.

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