The Church of Saint-Leu-d'Esserent

With its cathedral-like dimensions and ornamentation, the beautiful Benedictine abbey church is the jewel in the crown of the medieval town of Saint-Leu-d'Esserent. It overlooks the Oise Valley from its rocky promontory. Built in the 12th and 13th centuries, it is a real masterpiece of the transition between Romanesque and Gothic. As you enter the interior, you will see a 16th-century altarpiece depicting the life of Saint Nicholas, baptismal fonts from the same period and a recumbent statue of Renaud de Boulogne. As for the stained glass windows, they date from the 50s and 60s.

Not far from the church, be sure to go and visit the priory. It still has a fortified door and surrounding walls with a walkway on top. There are also remains of the cloister and refectory.