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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois de Presles, located in Val-d'Oise in Île-de-France, finds its origins in the 12th century, when it was given to the priory of Saint-Martin-des-Champs in Paris. The oldest elements, such as the Saint Joseph chapel north of the choir, date from this period. The present building, mainly built between the late 15th and mid 16th centuries, illustrates the flamboyant Gothic style, with reborn additions visible in the Corinthian capitals and vaults in basket coves.

The Hundred Years' War and the 14th century ravages probably damaged the church, requiring partial reconstruction. The bell tower, sober and typical of the 14th century, contrasts with the western facade, completely redone in 1876 by architect Léopold Hardy, financed by parishioner Auguste Potron. This facade incorporates neo-Gothic elements, such as the rosace and tympanum carved by Arsène Letellier, while maintaining traces of earlier periods.

Inside, the choir and chapel of the Virgin, vaulted with warheads, present a rich decoration, including friezes carved of picturesque characters and fantastic animals, typical of the late 15th century. The stained glass windows, offered by parishioners between 1863 and 1892, as well as the 17th century stalls from Saint-Cloud, add to the heritage value of the building. The church, classified as a historic monument in 1926, was the subject of major restorations, notably in 1974 and 2012, revealing a Merovingian necropolis under its parvis.

The parish history of Presles was marked by links with the diocese of Beauvais until the Revolution, then with that of Versailles and finally Pontoise from 1966. The parish registers, kept in the departmental archives, attest to more than 250 burials in the church between 1637 and 1779, reflecting its central role in community life. The chapel of Saint Joseph, potentially of Romanesque origin, and the base of the bell tower, vaulted with 14th century warheads, bear witness to successive architectural transformations.

The liturgical furniture, including a master altar in gold cast iron of 1867 and a 17th century pulpit to preach, completes this heritage. The paintings, dating from the 16th to the 19th century, and the hagiographic stained glass windows, like those dedicated to Saint Catherine and Saint Germain of Auxerre, underline the religious and artistic importance of the church. Recent restorations aim to preserve this monument, a symbol of local and regional history.

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