Averaging just over eleven degrees Celsius annually does Varennes-Jarcy sound like a place of extremes? Varennes-Jarcy is a commune in the Essonne department in northern France. This charming town is located twenty-six kilometers southeast of Paris. Its story is one of evolution from ancient roots to a modern community.
The name Varennes-Jarcy has an interesting origin. Varennes comes from the pre-Latin varenna. This term describes wet soils unsuitable for cultivation. Jarcy may come from hiera meaning a place of hieratic stones. The commune was officially created in 1793 simply as Varennes. The Jarcy part was added by decree on November 25 1904.
Let’s step back in time. In the 12th century Jarcy was a parish within the valley. Varennes became one in 1269. Both Varennes and Jarcy were distinct noble lands until 1789. You can see a reminder of this history on the town hall’s facade. The year 1269 marks the authorization to found the Notre-Dame de Jarcy abbey. The year 1902 represents the creation of a public and secular town hall and school.
In 1774 Monsieur the Count of Provence was the lord of Jarcy. He later became Louis XVIII in 1814. The beautiful Saint-Sulpice church stands as a testament to Varennes-Jarcy’s rich past. Constructed between 1269 and 1282 the church is dedicated to Saint Sulpice. He was a bishop of Bourges and protector of peasants. The church has been remodeled over the centuries. Its modest size measures twenty meters long and nine meters wide. The church is built with stones from Pousses-sur-Loing like Notre-Dame de Paris. It features a single nave ending in a flat chevet. Three large twin bays illuminate this area. The nave is covered by a tiled gable roof. The bell tower sits on the roof at the facade’s gable. It features a slate spire.
During the Reign of Terror the church was transformed into a Temple of Reason. In 1801 it regained its role as a church through concordat laws. The Saint-Sulpice church stands at the village center surrounded by a consecrated square. This square once enjoyed ecclesiastical immunity from the beginning of the year 1000. Inside polychrome beams cross the space beneath the vaulted ceiling.
From 1652 to 1682 the church was adorned with stained glass windows. These windows came from the Jarcy abbey. Abbesses had them removed during the partial reconstruction of their abbey. Soldiers had destroyed parts of the abbey during the Fronde. Today these stained glass windows are at the Cluny Museum in Paris. They depict the Nativity scenes from Christ’s life the Legend of Saint Theophilus Miracles of Saint Martin and the Tree of Jesse. New stained glass windows were installed in 2002. Carole Benzaken designed them with Gilles Rousvoal from the Duchemin workshops. They were inspired by the Tree of Jesse which once featured in the abbey’s choir windows. A simple floral motif the tulip evokes the memory of the Tree of Jesse.
The Saint Roch statue is another notable feature. It is a wooden sculpture located in the Saint-Sulpice church. Varennes-Jarcy is also crossed by the Yerres river. This river adds to the town’s charm. Varennes-Jarcy offers a blend of history natural beauty and community spirit.