Collégiale Saint-Martin de Champeaux, Gothic church in Champeaux, France.
The Collégiale Saint-Martin in Champeaux is a Gothic-style church built from five connected sections, each with its own roof structure. The main nave extends approximately 69 meters and features an alternating pattern of slender twin columns and stronger pillars that define the interior space.
Construction of this collegiate church started in 1160 with support from the Bishop of Paris. Work continued and expanded through the early 1300s as the building gradually took the form visitors see today.
The church impresses visitors with its colorful stained glass windows from the 15th and 16th centuries that tell religious stories through light and color. These windows work together with the Renaissance-style choir furnishings to create a rich artistic environment spanning multiple periods.
Visitors can attend regular Sunday services led by the Rural Missionary Brothers who maintain the church's spiritual life. The building continues to serve as an active place of worship within the larger Mormant parish community.
Round openings called oculi appear at the first level of the nave and serve a specific structural purpose in the design. These openings made it possible for architects to create surprisingly slender twin columns throughout the interior, giving the space an unusually open feel.
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