Eglise Sainte-Osmanne

Once a place of pilgrimage, the 12th-century Église Sainte-Osmanne remains at the heart of village life in Féricy. 

Site History

Dedicated to Saint Osmanna, Sainte-Osmanne Church in Féricy dates back to the 12th century, when the nave was constructed. The church received relics of Saint Osmanna in 1405. Legend holds that upon the arrival of the relics, a spring gushed forth in front of the church. The water was said to enhance fertility, and the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela was diverted to Féricy for the veneration of Saint Osmanna. Between 1532 and 1540, a Parisian workshop created stained-glass windows illustrating episodes from the New Testament along with hagiographic scenes of the patron saints of the church. Part of a bay of these windows was exhibited at the Louvre in 2017. The remarkable state of conservation and the artistic and iconographic unity of these stained-glass windows contribute to their exceptional value. 

Queen Anne of Austria had a mass celebrated in the church. On this occasion, water was brought to her from the Sainte-Osmanne spring. After 22 years of sterility, she gave birth to the future King Louis XIV and donated a high altar and a tabernacle in gilded wood to the church. The church was classified as a historic monument in 1930.

About the Project

The Église Sainte-Osmanne is severely damaged and in urgent need of intervention. Holes in the roof cause water infiltration, weakening the structure and putting the building at risk. The restoration project concerns the roofs of the transepts and the choir. The work will consist of replacing roof battens, tiles, and gutters and repairing damage. This project is supported by the municipality and local volunteers. Village life has revolved around the church for several centuries, and residents are determined to keep this beating heart of community alive.

Église Sainte-Osmanne Today

The rural community of Féricy is united around this project, which is supported by the entire municipal council as well as by numerous local volunteers. The latter participate in various activities and events as part of the fundraising campaign and work on communications concerning the project. The church also receives support from l’Association Féricy culture loisirs, which promotes the project within its network and to its members. A volunteer who did her thesis on the Sainte-Osmanne Church, in particular its stained-glass windows, will organize guided tours during European Heritage Days and other events. The publication of a dossier on the church’s history is being prepared.