Compiègne - Saint-Jacques

The medieval history of Compiègne starts with a castle built by the Merovingian dynasty. Louis the Pious` son, Charles the Bald, renamed the town "Carolopolis". On the site of the olde Merovingian palace Charles founded the abbey "Notre-Dame de Carlopole" in 876. The abbey´s church was consecrated by Pope John VIII during a councial held here in 877. In 879 Louis the Stammerer, who had succeeded his father Charles, got buried here, as well as, 8 years later, Louis V, the last Carolingian monarch in West Francia. The abbey renamed "Abbaye Saint-Corneille" existed up to the French Revolution.

Since the end of the 12th century two parishes existed in Compiègne. The erection of the church dedicated to Saint Jacques, that served the new parish, started in the first half of the 13th century and probably adressed not only the pious population, but as well the many pilgrims that crossed the town on their way to Paris, the gathering point for all following the Via Turonensis.

The building progress was rather slow, the tower, completed around 1500, got the top a century later. Mid 18th century, when classicism was "en vogue", the interior and parts of the exterior got altered, before a hundred years later, after the Revolution, the restorations started.

As the near castle was often used by the French kings, this was a "royal parish", funded by Louis XV, what lead to a lavish interior decoration with wood and marble.