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Pontoise editorial staff
Published on
Dec 10 2024 at 6:22 p.m.
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Some marked their entrance with a sign of the cross. Others simply pushed open the door of the building with solemnity and respect.
Many visitors, mostly residents of Presles (Val-d'Oise), went to church Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois during an exceptional opening on December 7, 2024.
This day put an end to a closure to the public pronounced in March 2022, due to the restoration projects undertaken on the flamboyant Gothic style building.
Reopened to the public
Launched in 2012, the renovations began from the outside, divided into five phases, one of which concerned the bell tower. Two others followed for the interior parts and should be completed at the end of 2025 with the north side, the sacristy and the floors.
“This is what is planned, but we are still waiting for the final subsidies to be voted on. This is why the work has been on standby since last September, explains Thierry Chaumerliac, the 1is deputy mayor Céline Caudron and fascinating and passionate guide during this reopening afternoon. The previous restorations of the church date back to 1867, which shows how important this operation is. »
The cost of the repairs amounts to nearly 3 million euros, subsidized at least 60% for each tranche by the Drac, the Île-de-France Region and the Val-d'Oise Department.
The bust of the priest stolen and found
One of the walls of the Presles church will highlight the bust of Ferdinand Foucher. Parish priest of Presles from 1875 until his death on November 17, 1893, this native of Eure-et-Loir enjoyed great popularity in the commune.
To adorn his grave in the municipal cemetery, his faithful had, at the time and by subscription, erected a monument bearing his bust. Nearly a century later, in 1990, this bronze piece was stolen. “I had kept it in my memory after having seen it very often when I was a child,” says Thierry Chaumerliac. What was my surprise when I found it in an antique dealer at the Saint-Ouen Flea Market in 2021. .” The elected official bought it “by weight” and undertook its restoration before donating it to the city.
Work on the place of worship built in the 12th centurye century and listed as a Historic Monument since 1926 were supervised by Alice Capron-Valat, heritage architect who in October became the fifth woman to pass the competition for chief architects of Historic Monuments since its creation in 1893.
Around ten trades took turns to restore the church to all its splendor.
Water leaks
“I took part in the first study carried out in 2004 and I remember alerting people to water leaks which were damaging the walls and beams,” says Thierry Chaumerliac, heading towards a discovery made during the removal of paneling near of the cast iron altar which was exhibited at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1867.
“A liturgical pool, also called a washbasin, appeared. It dates from the 15the century,” enthuses this architecture and history enthusiast.
The church will open its doors again on the evening of December 25 for Christmas mass. “One part will only be open,” underlines the deputy. The last time we experienced this ceremony was in 2021…”
Thierry RAYNAL
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