Église Saint-Gratien

Gazing upon the Église Saint-Gratien, imagine stepping back to the mid-19th century. The old 13th-century church, once a familiar landmark, was crumbling. Its stones whispered tales of bygone eras, but its structure was failing. Enter Princess Mathilde Bonaparte, niece of Napoleon I and cousin of Napoleon III. She resided in her château at Saint-Gratien and generously funded the construction of a new church. The Église Saint-Gratien we see today, a neo-Gothic masterpiece designed by Léon Ohnet, rose from the remnants of the old. It was consecrated on May 23, 1859, with Princess Mathilde herself in attendance. The princess’s connection to the Église Saint-Gratien didn’t end with its construction. Within its walls lie two prominent figures. In the right chapel, a bust marks the burial place of Princess Mathilde herself, who passed away in 1904. In the left chapel, a sarcophagus holds the remains of Marshal Nicolas de Catinat, a significant figure in French military history and lord of Saint-Gratien. The original church housed his tomb, but it was desecrated during the French Revolution. His remains, along with those of his grandniece, were tossed into a common grave. They were rediscovered in 1860 during the demolition of the old church and reinterred in the new Église Saint-Gratien. The marshal’s sarcophagus, created by Count Émilien de Nieuwerkerke, showcases him lying in state. The original marble plaques with their lengthy epitaphs were also preserved, adding a tangible link to the past within this newer structure. Look closely at the stained-glass windows, crafted by the Haussaire brothers of Reims. Installed in 1897, they depict saints bearing the likenesses of the church’s donors. The two windows in the Virgin’s chapel, dating back to 1861, uniquely portray the Annunciation. The Église Saint-Gratien is more than just a building. It stands as a testament to the generosity of a princess, a tribute to a military hero, and a repository of local history.