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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Martin de Cormeilles-en-Parisis church, located in Val-d'Oise in Île-de-France, is an emblematic monument built from the twelfth to the sixteenth century. It succeeds a Romanesque church with only two capitals remaining. The crypt, built around 1145 under the impulse of Saint-Denis Abbey, is one of the oldest known Gothic crypts, along with that of Saint-Denis Basilica. It bears witness to the architectural innovation of the time, especially by the early use of the arch in third-point.

The choir, built at the end of the 12th century, underwent several changes due to problems of stability. The nave, a Romanesque aspect, but probably built in the 13th century, was profoundly altered in the 15th and 16th centuries, notably by the revival of large arcades and the addition of flamboyant-style capitals. The southern collateral of the choir, rebuilt in the 16th century, has Renaissance elements and coat of arms of Saint-Denis Abbey, highlighting its role as a decimator.

In the 19th century, the church underwent major restorations, including the reconstruction of the western facade and the elevation of the bell tower under the direction of architect Blondel. These interventions have profoundly transformed his inner and outer appearance, while preserving medieval elements. Ranked a historic monument in 1997, the church remains an active place of worship and a unique architectural testimony, marked by varied construction campaigns and multiple stylistic influences.

The crypt, accessible by a staircase from the base of the bell tower, is an underground vaulted area of the river, originally designed to stabilize the unstable terrain. It has carved capitals of water leaves and monotoric vaults, characteristic of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Although partially filled and modified, it retains exceptional archaeological value, studied by experts such as Philippe Bilvès and Mathieu Lours.

The church furniture includes classified 16th century woodwork, a neobaroque altarpiece, and baptismal fonts. Among the remarkable elements are an ex-voto painting stolen between 1986 and 1992, as well as a stone bentier and a monument to the dead. The Association for the Preservation of the Church (ASESM) works to preserve it, stressing its heritage and community importance.

The history of the parish is closely linked to Saint-Denis Abbey, the principal lord of Cormeilles until the Revolution. After 1966, the church was attached to the diocese of Pontoise and remained the parish's main place of worship, despite the construction of a new church in 2007. Its heterogeneous architecture, combining Romanesque, primitive Gothic, flamboyant and neo-Gothic styles, makes it an atypical and fascinating building.

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