St. Germain Church, Presles

The church of Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois is a Catholic parish church located in Presles, France. In the middle of the 12th century, it was given to the priory Saint-Martin-des-Champs in Paris. Its oldest elements date from this period, in the chapel of Saint Joseph to the north of the choir. Otherwise, apart from the large, potentially Gothic arcades and a very sober 14th century Gothic bell tower, the church dates essentially from the end of the 15th and the middle of the 16th century, and is in the Flamboyant Gothic style. It was altered in modern times, and the facade dates only from 1876. If the nave and its south aisle are rather basic constructions, the choir and the chapel of the Virgin, which accompanies it to the south, are built with care and vaulted with ogives. The first two double arches of the choir are supported by Corinthian capitals, and the basket-handle shape of the vaults also indicates the Renaissance, but the undulating pillars of the apse and their capitals are nevertheless flamboyant. There are a few keystones with unusual iconography, and especially two friezes depicting picturesque characters, animals, often fantastical, and coats of arms. On the outside, the decoration of the apse and its curious rectangular base are remarkable. Among the furnishings, the twenty-two 17th century stalls are noteworthy; they come from Saint-Cloud, and six of them have 16th century misericords. The church of Saint-Germain was registered as a historical monument by order of June 16, 1926. Sunday masses are celebrated there every Sunday at 10:30 am.