Did you know? There's an unusual troglodyte church in the Val d'Oise, just waiting to be discovered.

While Paris has no shortage of unusual outings, the rest of the region also reveals treasures well worth the detour. Today, we'd like to take you to the Val d'Oise to discover a church that's one of a kind in the Paris region. We're heading for the commune of Haute-Isle, a 4-minute drive from the Château de la Roche Guyon, which is also troglodyte.

This is where you'll find theChurch of the Annunciation, the only troglodyte church in the Paris region. This means it was built right into the rock. In this case, theChurch of the Annunciation was excavated from a chalk cliff, and only its bell tower is masonry. In fact, it gives us the impression of piercing through the green hill that covers the church. Note that you won't necessarily be able to see it from the street, as it is hidden from view by a small staircase.

The troglodyte church of the Annunciation at Haute-Isle is a unique architectural curiosity in the Île-de-France region. Built between 1670 and 1673 on commission from Nicolas Dongois, a local seigneur and secretary to the king, it measures 26 meters long, 8 meters wide and 8 meters high. The work produced over 1,600 cubic meters of rubble, which was used to create a hemp retting area along the river. The façade features five openings, including the unfinished one on the left, which today houses the town's war memorial. The only masonry element of the building is the bell tower rising out of the mountain.

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In 1926, the church was listed on the supplementary inventory of historic monuments. The church's furnishings were restored between 2012 and 2015. It continues to host services and is part of the Magny-en-Vexin pastoral sector.

The troglodytic church at Haute-Isle is open to visitors by appointment and subject to daily availability. Individuals and groups are welcome.

Reservations : Contact the Town Hall secretariat to make an appointment and check availability on 01 34 79 73 24.

Nearby :

Château de la Roche Guyon, a troglodyte castle in the Val-d'Oise with a breathtaking view over the Seine valley
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