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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul de Rueil-Malmaison, located in the Hauts-de-Seine, finds its origins in the eighth century with the creation of a parish. A first church was built in the 12th century, followed by the elevation of a Roman bell tower between 1420 and 1432, during the English occupation. The building was largely destroyed at the end of the Hundred Years' War, then rebuilt from 1584 under the impulse of Antoine I, claiming the throne of Portugal in exile. The present façade, erected between 1632 and 1635 by order of Cardinal Richelieu, is the work of architect Jacques Lemercier and is inspired by that of the Sorbonne.

Over the centuries, the church underwent several transformations and restorations. In 1792 she was sacked during the French Revolution, losing her sculptures and glass windows. In the 19th century, Napoleon III financed a major restoration between 1854 and 1857, entrusting the work to architect Joseph-Eugène Lacroix. The transept is enlarged, the Romanesque bell tower is rebuilt, and the façade is decorated with modern statues in 1990. The church was listed as a Historic Monument in 1941.

Inside the church houses remarkable works of art, including a bas-relief in golden bronze by François Anguier, La Descent de Croix (1667), originally intended for the church of Val-de-Grâce. The organs, offered by Napoleon III, come from the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, with a buffet carved by Baccio d'Agnolo (1490-1520). The tombs of Josephine de Beauharnais (1825) and Queen Hortense (1858) are major works by Pierre Cartellier and Jean-Auguste Barre, respectively.

The church is also the theatre of historical events, such as the funeral of Josephine in 1814 or those of Queen Hortense in 1837. In 1860, she temporarily welcomed the remains of the Duchess of Albe, sister of Empress Eugénie. The facade, restored in 1990, bears the arms of Richelieu and the republican motto Freedom, Equality, Fraternity, while the northern portal, dating from 1603, carries the imperial arms and initials of Josephine and Hortense.

The church bells, blessed at different times (1730, 1786, 1825, 1922), bear witness to its central role in parish life. The building, owned by the commune, remains a place of memory and worship, marked by the history of France, from the Renaissance to the Empire.

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