Église Saint-Aquillin

Gazing upon the Église Saint-Aquillin, one might wonder how such a grand structure exists in the small village of Fontenay-en-Parisis. The church, dedicated to the somewhat unusual Saint Aquilin, boasts an impressive size. It measures 42 meters long and its spire reaches a towering 44 meters, a scale more common to cathedrals than village churches. The Église Saint-Aquillin isn’t just large, it’s a captivating blend of architectural styles spanning centuries. The southern aisle wall whispers tales of the original, smaller Romanesque structure from the late 11th century. Look closely, and you’ll see two narrow, round-arched windows peeking from the lower section. The base of the bell tower, with its sturdy Romanesque architecture dating back to the second quarter of the 12th century, also reveals the church’s layered past. The current nave, with its unadorned pointed arches and intricately carved capitals, arose in the third quarter of the 12th century, blending Romanesque and early Gothic elements. Imagine the crowds that once flocked to the Église Saint-Aquillin to venerate a fragment of the True Cross, gifted by Saint Louis himself. This precious relic, housed in a golden cross, likely contributed to the church’s impressive expansion. Its presence brought offerings and prestige to this modest village. The relic, originally from Jerusalem, eventually made its way from Fontenay to Saint-Cloud and finally to Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. The church also housed relics of Saint Aquilin, whose addition as a patron saint between 909 and 926 likely fueled the growth of this remarkable edifice. The church’s unique features, such as the sexpartite rib vaults and the ambulatory without radiating chapels, speak to its distinct history. The choir, built between 1200 and 1260, exhibits these unusual architectural choices. This is not to mention the triangular windows dotting the upper choir walls and almost forgotten architectural element today. Even the 16th-century rebuilding of the ambulatory and the construction of a new nave roof have added to this mix of periods. The Renaissance style, the final touch by Nicolas de Saint-Michel, appears in the form of a baptismal chapel built in 1583. The Église Saint-Aquillin stands as a testament to the enduring faith and evolving artistry of generations past. Its walls hold not just stones and mortar, but stories of relics and royalty, of architectural innovation and historical change.