If you're in the Yvelines region, now's your chance to discover the sublime treasures that await us in the heart of this Île-de-France department with its rich heritage. This time, we're off to Mantes-la-Jolie to discover a sublime church located near the banks of the Seine: the Collégiale Notre-Dame de Mantes.
Overlooking the surrounding residential areas, this historic monument dates back to the 12th century and is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Its architecture is inspired by Laon Cathedral in the Aisne region of France. Yet it is to one of Paris's most emblematic monuments that the Collégiale Notre-Dame de Mantes is regularly compared, as it is nicknamed "Notre-Dame de Paris's little sister". "The towers of this impressive church rise to a height of 60 metres. By way of comparison, the towers of Notre-Dame de Paris reach a height of 69m.
But the comparison with the famous Paris cathedral isn't just a matter of height: there's also a family resemblance in terms of the dominant Gothic style they share, and their three-storey elevation. What's more, in the 12th century, the nave of the collegiate church was one of the highest in the world, only 2 metres higher than Notre-Dame Cathedral.
From medieval times to the present day, the Collégiale Notre-Dame de Mantes has witnessed centuries of French history. At the time of the French Revolution, the church was damaged and several statues on its façade were mutilated in 1794, like the crowned heads that adorned those of Notre-Dame de Paris. Some of the sculptures were later recovered from the former Ursuline convent, and some are now on display at the Hôtel-Dieu Museum in Mantes-la-Jolie.
Later, the Collégiale became a "Temple de la Raison", a kind of atheist temple dedicated to the Cult of Reason, created during the French Revolution, the principle of which was to rally the people around the values of the Republic through civic events and festivals. Later, it was used as a saltpetre factory and an arsenal. Finally, it underwent several restoration campaigns and was classified as a historical monument in 1840. It was only slightly damaged during the Second World War, when allied fire destroyed the Mantes bridge in 1944.
On the façade, the Portal de la Résurrection, dedicated to the resurrection of Christ, is one of the oldest works adorning the Collégiale: it is estimated to have been created around 1150. During your visit to the Collégiale Notre-Dame de Mantes, we invite you to take a closer look at the Grande Rosace de Mantes: one of the oldest in France, with the oldest panels dating back to around 1210, it depicts the Last Judgement.
The building is open to visitors free of charge, in keeping with religious services. TheFriends of the Collegiate Church association alsooffers free video-guides at their reception point at the entrance to the church, enabling visitors to discover the monument in detail. The office is open every afternoon from 2.30 to 4.30 pm. Guided tours for groups can also be organized on request from theMantes-la-Jolie Tourist Office.
Dates and Opening Time
Next days
Sunday:
open
Monday:
open
Tuesday:
open
Wednesday:
open
Thursday:
open
Friday:
open
Saturday:
open
Location
Collégiale Notre-Dame de Mantes
Place de l'Étape
78200 Mantes la Jolie
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