St. Remi Church, Asnières-sur-Oise

Saint Remi Church is a Catholic parish church located in Asnières-sur-Oise, France. It is believed to be located on the site of a primitive oratory, built in the 6th century on a site designated by Saint Remi himself. The church of Asnières-sur-Oise, probably already dedicated to Saint Remi, was given to the abbey of Saint-Denis in 775, and the parish is mentioned in an act of 907. A new Romanesque choir was probably built in the first quarter of the 12th century. Its first two bays, with barrel vaults, still exist and represent the oldest part of the present church. During the first Gothic period, the nave was rebuilt with tiers-point arches falling on the capitals of the hooks of cylindrical pillars, without vaulting, then the Romanesque apse was replaced by two new bays with a canted chevet, curiously vaulted with groins. The bell tower-porch must date from the same period, and is considered the most interesting element of the church. Later, at the end of the 12th century and the beginning of the 13th century, two side chapels were added to the north and south of the choir, which are the only parts of the church to have benefited from an ogival vaulting. The first bay of the northern chapel, which is the seigneurial chapel, was further modified in the flamboyant gothic period. In 1792, the church received the altarpiece of the Royaumont Abbey, flanked by two marble columns. As a whole, the church of Saint-Rémi stands out less for its architectural quality, even if the choir is not without originality, than as a precious witness of the religious architecture in the country of France in the 12th century, a period little represented among the churches preserved today. In addition, a rich and varied furniture adds to the charm of the church, which is well maintained and still hosts a Eucharistic celebration almost every Sunday. The church has been listed as a historical monument since 1985.