Saint-Loup-de-Naud is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department, in the Île-de-France region, 9 km south-west of Provins.
Its territory of nearly 11 km², discreetly hilly, belongs to the natural region of Brie champenoise, surrounded to the west by the plains of Brie and to the south by the green hills of Montois and the Dragon valley.
Composed of three hamlets (Courton-le-Haut, Courton-le-Bas and Saint-Loup-de-Naud to the northwest), the locality has remained rural and green. It is covered with arable land (60% of its area) and forests (30%).
If unearthed remains (flint, axes) attest to human occupation from the Neolithic era, it was in the 6th century AD that the village was built on a spur overlooking the Dragon Valley. It developed when a Benedictine priory was established in the 10th century preserving the relics of Saint Loup, former bishop of Sens, and became a place of pilgrimage. From this period dates a superb Romanesque church. The decline of the Champagne fairs, the Hundred Years War and then the Wars of Religion will stop the activity of the priory.
Nowadays, Saint-Loup-de-Naud has nearly 900 inhabitants. The town highlights its heritage (concerts, exhibitions) and its bucolic environment: a little paradise one hour from Paris!
The parish church of Saint-Loup is the jewel of the local heritage. It dates from the 11th and 12th centuries, built to serve the Benedictine priory established to preserve and venerate the relics of the former bishop of Sens. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1846, the site is considered one of the most remarkable examples of the Romanesque style in Île-de-France. The church is preceded by a massive two-storey porch. Its first level is vaulted with warheads.
The entrance to the church is through a portal sculpted with arches which constitutes "the" masterpiece of the whole. The tympanum has a sculpted Christ in glory, surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists. The lintel is also carved with a Virgin, surrounded by the apostles. The trumeau is decorated for its part with a representation of Saint Loup. The two embrasures are each adorned with three statue-columns (a great novelty for the time). The arches are decorated with scenes of the Visitation, the Annunciation, the Magi and legendary episodes from the life of Saint Loup de Sens.
In addition, a bell tower surmounts the crossing of the transept and the semicircular bays are also beautifully crafted.
Recently restored, the church houses a richly sculpted 14th century stone altarpiece, once fixed to the wall of a fountain (known as the "saint's fountain", to the west of the town). Other interior elements (statues, furniture) are classified as objects.
The tympanum of the portal would have inspired Marcel Proust, who describes it as that of the church of Bolbec in "In Search of Lost Time". To visit the church, where concerts take place in summer, information on +33 1 64 08 62 58.
A second site, in the village, deserves attention. This is the Tower of the "Haute Maison": built in the 13th century, it first served as the stronghold of the priory. When the latter was abandoned, it became the property of the local lords. In the 19th century, the Tower was owned by the Saint-Phalle family and then, in the 20th century, by the Princess of Polignac, born Winnaretta Singer, of American origin (1865-1943). Extremely wealthy, patron, she donated this property to her lover, Violet Trefusis, a British woman of letters (1894-1972). She holds a salon there: personalities from all over Paris frequent the premises, such as Marcel Proust. The interiors have been restored, and the exteriors were converted at the time of Violet Trefusis into an Italian-inspired garden, dotted with the ruins of the priory of yesteryear. The whole overlooks the church. The site managed by an association hosts cultural events in the summer (readings, exhibitions). Visit the last weekend of June or by appointment. Contact on +33 6 80 07 77 77.
Finally, still in terms of heritage, a walk in the alleys of the village allows you to observe charming dwellings and so-called small heritage elements which also bring all its character to the small town..
The surrounding countryside lends itself to beautiful walks and even hikes. These may include the valley of the Dragon River, protected for its biodiversity (presence of trout and various species).
The town is also crossed by the GRP path (great country hike) called "Thibaut de Champagne", which forms a 140 km loop. Maps and information on +33 1 64 60 26 26.
