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Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame de Pontoise, located in Val-d'Oise in Île-de-France, replaces a radiant Gothic basilica destroyed in 1589 during the siege of the city. This basilica, one of the largest in France, housed a 13th-century Virgin with the Child, known as miraculous, and the tomb of Saint Gauthier, the first abbot of Saint Martin de Pontoise. Its destruction during the Wars of Religion led to the construction of the present, more modest building, between 1598 and 1600 under the direction of Nicolas Le Mercier.

The original basilica, built between the 12th and 16th centuries, was a 130-metre-long Gothic masterpiece with a 55-metre-long arrow and exceptional stained glass windows. It was partially destroyed in 1437 by the English, then rebuilt with royal funds. In 1589, during the siege of Pontoise by Henry III and Henry IV, it was shaved, leaving only a few remains such as the statue of the Virgin and fragments of funeral slabs. The present church, listed as a historical monument in 1926, preserves these relics and rich furniture, including a 17th-century baroque organ buffet.

The Virgin with the Child, carved around 1250, is the spiritual heart of the place. Originally placed on the haze of the northern portal of the basilica, it attracted pilgrims, including Anne of Austria and the city of Paris, begging for its protection against the plague. In 1638, the inhabitants of Pontoise made a solemn vow before her to escape an epidemic, promising annual offerings still honoured today. The chapel, built in 1729, is full of ex-votos and commemorative plaques.

The architecture of the present church, sober and functional, reflects the constraints of its rapid and economical construction. The nave, wide and low, is arched with wood, while the bottoms have stone vaults. The Renaissance-style bell tower recalls the church of Saint Sulpice de Chars. Inside, large arches in the middle of the hanger and simplified doric pilasters contrast with baroque furniture, such as stalls from Maubuisson Abbey or 17th century organ.

The tomb of Saint Gauthier, first abbot of Pontoise canonized in 1153, is another treasure of the church. This 13th-century layr, surrounded by angels and bas-reliefs representing his canonization, was saved from revolutionary destruction by Abbé Cordier in 1843. Nearby, fragmentary funerary slabs, including that of Pierre Le Mercier, architect of the basilica, recall the turbulent history of the site. The restorations carried out between 2000 and 2010 restored the building's exterior radiance.

Ranked a historic monument in 1926, Notre Dame Church remains a place of devotion and memory. Its stained glass windows, 19th-century murals and liturgical objects, such as a 16th-century chasuble or a 1660 Flemish bell, bear witness to its rich past. Despite its architectural simplicity, it embodies the resilience of a community and the persistence of a secular Marian cult.

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