Saint Vaast Church

The church of Saint-Michel-et-Saint-Vaast is a Catholic parish church located in Catenoy, in the department of Oise, France. It is one of the oldest churches in Beauvaisis.

Its transept, its central bell tower and its choir have undergone few modifications since their construction at the end of the 11th century, and constitute interesting testimonies of the Romanesque architecture of this period. The transept crossing is lit by two high windows on the east side, and Saint-Vaast church has one of the few lantern towers in the department. The bell tower is one of the first with geminated windows. The choir is covered with a barrel vault followed by a groin vault. The facade was added about sixty years later, and reflects the Romanesque style at its peak. Its six-vaulted portal decorated with broken sticks is one of the most accomplished in the region. In the nave, of considerable dimensions, large elegant arcades in the Gothic style of the early 13th century ensure communication with the aisle added at that time. If the paneled ceiling brings a note of austerity, the plated arcatures that enliven the walls of the first bay of the nave and the aisle bring a note of refinement. The church of Saint-Vaast was classified as a historical monument by order of September 10, 1913.