Ancienne église Saint Pierre

The church of the largest parish in Senlis until the French Revolution, this pre-Romanesque building has undergone many architectural changes. The massive square tower, 47m high and topped by a Renaissance-style dome, dates from the late 16th century.

A work of very high quality, the façade of Saint Pierre, dated 1516 in a cartouche to the left of the central portal, may reasonably be attributed to Martin Chambiges.

St Pierre's church has had an eventful history since it was disused in 1791: it was used as a fodder shop, a chicory factory, a cavalry quarter from 1841, a covered market, and then as a shrine to the victims of the Turkish Airline DC 10 tragedy in 1974. The town then decided to use the church as a cultural centre, where associations organise annual fairs, exhibitions and concerts.

Did you know? Martin Chambiges contributed to a number of major architectural projects, including Saint-Etienne's Cathedral in Sens, Notre-Dame Cathedral in Senlis, Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul Cathedral in Troyes, Saint-Pierre Cathedral in Beauvais and the Notre Dame Bridge in Paris, to name but a few!

The former church of St Pierre is open for events and the European Heritage Days.

• Temporary exhibitions
• Specific thematic animation
• Conferences

• Guided tour: no
• Free visit: no

Services

• Free parking