Saint-Leu-d'Esserent Abbey, Gothic abbey in Saint-Leu-d'Esserent, France

Saint-Leu-d'Esserent Abbey is a Gothic monastery featuring a basilica without a transept and a choir area with five radiating chapels arranged around a central hemicycle. An ambulatory connects these chapels and creates a flowing interior space.

Hugues de Dammartin gave the church and lands of Esserent to the bishop of Beauvais in 1081 so that a priory dependent directly on Cluny could be founded there. The Romanesque west block was finished around 1150, then the Gothic apse (about 1160), choir (about 1180) and nave (about 1200) followed. English troops plundered the priory in 1359 and burned the west block in 1436; the church was restored between 1855 and 1912.

The church is dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Myra, a dedication tied to the trading harbour on the Oise. It was also a pilgrimage site, and one monk traditionally served as parish priest. Inside are a damaged recumbent effigy of Count Renaud of Dammartin, a 14th-century stone Saint Nicholas retable and a 16th-century font.

The abbey is easily accessible and allows time to observe the Gothic details closely. Guided tours help visitors understand the architectural features and their placement within the building.

The church keeps a damaged recumbent effigy of Count Renaud of Dammartin, a 14th-century stone St Nicholas retable and a 16th-century baptismal font. Its stained glass is modern, made in the 20th century. The building was hit during British bombing of the V1 factory in the underground quarries in 1944.