His distinctive nose has entered legend, but it’s in a quiet church in Sannois that Cyrano de Bergerac truly rests. Just a few kilometers from Paris, in the Val-d’Oise, the Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul Church of Sannois preserves the memory of Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac (1619-1655), a 17th-century writer and free thinker. While his name is often associated with Edmond Rostand’s famous play, here rests a man of flesh and ink—far from the spotlight and grand speeches, away from theatrical bravado.
Enthusiasts of Île-de-France heritage, French literature, and local history often discover, to their surprise, that the final resting place of Cyrano de Bergerac isn’t in Paris but in this charming town nestled in the hills overlooking the Montmorency Valley. What begins as a routine church visit quickly turns into a heartfelt literary pilgrimage.
Before being immortalized by Rostand as a romantic hero with a prominent nose, Cyrano de Bergerac was a distinctive writer, shaped by the free spirit of the 17th century. He is best known for \"The Other World or the States and Empires of the Moon\", a visionary tale that explores space travel and questions society, religion, and science. His rich imagination, combined with a lively and satirical writing style, makes him a unique figure of the Grand Siècle.
The infamous injury that hastened his demise—caused by the fall of a wooden beam—brought an end to a life already filled with turbulence. Weakening, he retreated to Sannois to be with his cousin, Pierre de Cyrano, the parish prior. It was in Sannois that Cyrano spent his final months. Welcomed to the priory, he passed away there in 1655. He was buried in the Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul Church, where his remains still rest today. Parish records confirm his burial at this site. This church in Val-d’Oise thus quietly becomes the last home of a major 17th-century writer.
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Location
Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul Church in Sannois
1 Rue Carnot
95110 Sannois
