Saint-Leu-d’Esserent - Saint-Nicolas

Hugues de Dammartin donated land to the abbey of Cluny in 1081. "Cluny" then sent monks to build a priory here dedicated to “St Leu”.

At that time a church may have existed here already. Mid 12th century the church got extended to the west, soon after the builders, obviously inspired by the new style (Saint Denis, Senlis Cathedral), started to erect the eastern apse in an early Gothic style - and to construct the wide and nave (1180/1210). The Romanesque portal to the narthex. Some of the sculpted capitals seem to be "new", a result of a recent restoration.