Notre-Dame Collegiate Church, Poissy

The collegiate church of Notre-Dame de Poissy is a Catholic parish church, located in Poissy, Yvelines, France. It was founded by King Robert the Pious around 1016, but of the 11th century church, only the western bell tower-porch remains. Indeed, the collegiate church was rebuilt from the beginning of the 12th century, and in particular between 1130 and 1160, in the late Romanesque style, then later in the early Gothic style, which is evident in the eastern parts. The future Louis IX was baptized there, a few days after his birth in Poissy, on April 25, 1214. This event made the church famous, and the baptismal fonts from that period are still preserved there. Throughout the Ancien Régime, a chapter of canons had its seat in the church, and for a long time provided parish services. It was dissolved during the Revolution, and the church was closed to worship, only to reopen in 1802.

The name of collegiate church is now only a reference to the past. At the beginning of the 19th century, the church fell into ruin, and its restoration by the municipal architects was not a success. Although singularly lacking in homogeneity due to remodeling of different styles that are often only very punctual, it is classified as a historical monument by list of 1840, then its restoration is entrusted to Eugene Viollet-le-Duc. This one sees himself obliged to remake almost everything with nine, in particular the parts going back to XIIe century. At first, he shows respect for the authenticity of the monument, scrupulously reconstitutes its original architecture and reuses the capitals and bases.

Then, from 1861 onwards, he moved away from the initial party and invented freely, sacrificing in particular all the elements dating from after the 12th century in the old parts of the church. Thus the collegiate church of Notre-Dame gradually became a neo-Gothic building, and on the outside, only the two bell towers and the two Louis XII style portals to the south are authentic. As a result, the church is not much appreciated by archaeologists, but it remains interesting for its plan, its three-level elevation, its beautiful Romanesque capitals and bases, and many remarkable works of art.