Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, Champagne-sur-Oise

The Church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption in Champagne-sur-Oise is a Catholic parish church located in Champagne-sur-Oise, France. It is known for the elegant Gothic architecture of its nave, built between 1230 and 1240 approximately under the influence of the great Parisian royal building sites. Knowing that Saint Louis himself founded a chapel in the church in 1239, it is possible to think that he himself intervened in the construction of the church, whose work had been interrupted between 1190 and 1230. The large arches of the nave are inspired in many aspects by the traffic circle of the apse of the Saint-Denis basilica, but their style remains traditional. The upper parts are of the best radiant style; the design of the high windows is borrowed from the lower church of the Sainte-Chapelle or from the cathedral of Amiens, and the way they are joined to the plated arcatures simulating the triforium makes the originality of the church of Champagne-sur-Oise. The transept and the choir from the years 1180-1190 are also of high architectural quality, even if the smallness of the choir can be surprising. The most interesting parts are the two older apsidioles, still in the Romanesque style, built with great care. The transept crossing was reworked at the end of the 15th century in the flamboyant gothic style, and its piers were provided with friezes representing, in addition to plant motifs, sometimes fantastic animals and characters performing everyday gestures. The most remarkable element of the remodeling is the tref under the triumphal arch, although it has lost its statues. The church was classified as a historical monument quite early by list of 1862. It was then in a critical state, and its restoration from 1870 was too radical on the external parts, which lost their authenticity. The Gothic bell tower with two floors of bays has fortunately not lost any of its elegance. Richly decorated, light and slender, it is one of the most successful gothic bell towers in the department.