Église Saint-Loup de Saint-Loup-de-Naud

Saint-Loup-de-Naud

Perched on a rocky spur above the valley, the church of Saint-Loup de Naud is one of the little-known jewels of Romanesque art in Île-de-France. A chapel already existed in the 10th century on the estate of Naud; around 980, the Archbishop of Sens entrusted the place to the Benedictine monks of Saint-Pierre-le-Vif, who founded a priory there. The choir, the transept and the first two bays of the nave were built in the second half of the 11th century. In 1160, Archbishop Hugues de Toucy gave the priory a relic of Saint Loup, Bishop of Sens in the 7th century, while the Count of Champagne Henry the Liberal financed the enlargement of the nave and the building of the famous west portal, adorned with column-statues heralding the nascent Gothic art – among them a remarkable Saint Paul. Having become a parish church in the 12th century, it suffered the ravages of the English during the Hundred Years' War, then plunder by the Protestants in 1567; the priory was dissolved at the Revolution. Listed as a monument historique in 1846, it underwent restoration after 1871, then closure for safety reasons between 2011 and 2013. The sanctuary is said to have inspired Marcel Proust, who came here several times, with the imaginary churches of Balbec and Saint-André-des-Champs in In Search of Lost Time. A painting of 1775 by Charles-Nicolas Lambinet, on view in the south transept, shows Clothar II begging the forgiveness of Saint Loup.

Getting there : Village of Saint-Loup-de-Naud, 6 km south-west of Provins by the D403; car park at the foot of the village then a short climb on foot to the church on its rocky spur; open to visitors during the day.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound