Imagine a time long ago. The area around the Rond-point de la Saussaye was very different. It was a place where willow trees thrived in damp soil.
The name “Saussaye” comes from the Latin word “salis”. It refers to a wet area where willows grow well. Today at the Rond-point de la Saussaye, we can see the echoes of this history in the place’s name.
The hamlet of La Saussaye has had many names over time. People called it la Saucée and la Saulcée. Others knew it as la Chaussaye and sometimes la Saucoye. These names all point to the many willow trees in this area. Now it is called Rond-point de la Saussaye.
Historians believe the first people here came from Elbeuf-sur-Seine. They found Gaulish objects that suggest early settlement. The history of the hamlet, near today’s Rond-point de la Saussaye, begins with the Lords of Harcourt.
The House of Harcourt was a powerful Norman dynasty. They came from Scandinavian Vikings around 900 AD. Rollon, the Viking leader, made Bernard the Dane the governor of Normandy. Bernard received the seigneury of Harcourt and the county of Pont-Audemer. He became a very important person. His descendants shaped the history of places like the Rond-point de la Saussaye.
Over generations, the Harcourts gained more power. In 1338, King Philip VI made Harcourt a county. This included Lillebonne, Troispierres, La Saussaye now the Rond-point de la Saussaye and Elbeuf. The Harcourts were not only barons but also important figures in politics, academia, and the church.
One notable Harcourt was Guillaume d’Harcourt. He was the Lord of Elbeuf and La Saussaye. He advised the King and held high positions at court. Guillaume built the Collegiate Church of La Saussaye from 1307 to 1317. It was dedicated to Saint Louis.
This church, located not far from the Rond-point de la Saussaye, suffered damage over the years. Fires destroyed its murals, windows, and roof. It was rebuilt in the 16th century and again in the late 19th century.
Guillaume d’Harcourt established a chapter of canons in La-Saussaye in 1317. He chose a chapel dedicated to Saint Louis. Thirteen priests served there. They included a dean and a cantor elected by the canons. The Saint-Louis Collegiate Church became the center of their community. They lived in houses around the church.
The canons of La Saussaye, near today’s Rond-point de la Saussaye, had significant wealth. They collected rents from mills and owned land. Each canon received 30 livres in income. The dean received an extra 20 livres and the cantor 10. The church stood within an enclosure with houses, a courtyard, a well, and a cemetery.
In 1319, Guillaume granted the chapter freedom from all duties in his lordships. In 1323, Guillaume and his wife, Blanche d’Avaugour, added 200 livres to their income. This money came from duties on the Seine River in Rouen. After Guillaume’s death in 1327, Blanche gave 1,000 livres to finish the church. She also provided money for decorations and a new income for the canons.
The parish of Saint-Martin-La Corneille was linked to the collegiate church. The dean oversaw the enclosure and the castle but a vicar served the other parishioners. Later, Marie d’Harcourt gave patronage to two other churches. René II, Duke of Lorraine, founded a choir.
Claude de Lorraine reduced the number of prebends in the 16th century. In 1553, a fire destroyed the collegiate church. It was rebuilt in the Gothic style thanks to King Henry II and the Dukes of Elbeuf. Around 1563, the canons fortified the area to protect themselves from raiders and Protestants.
The chapter eventually disappeared in 1791. However, the building remained as a parish church. It still stands today, after many reconstructions, a short distance from the Rond-point de la Saussaye.
The church also held the family tombs of the Counts and Dukes of Elbeuf. These tombs were desecrated in 1793 during the French Revolution. In that year, the mayor ordered the tombs opened. The lead from the coffins and the church roof was melted into bullets. The bells were melted into cannons.
In 1808, the commune of La Saussaye merged with St Martin la Corneille. The church became the place of worship for both communities. Another fire damaged the collegiate church in 1875. The reconstruction took four years. The church was restored to its original state.
Today, the Saint-Louis Collegiate Church near the Rond-point de la Saussaye houses a museum. It tells the story of this historic area. It reminds us of the people who lived here and shaped its past. The history of the area around Rond-point de la Saussaye is rich. It tells a story of lords, churches, and communities. It connects us to the past.