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We saw two churches today, the first a collegiate church in Mantes-La-Jolie named Collegiale Notre-Dame. We spent much time looking at its outside and were well rewarded. Built on a steep hill above the River Seine, this church was strategically located between the powerful Duchy of Normandy and the Paris-based Capetian kingdom. In fact, William the Conqueror, also the Duke of Normandy, attacked Mantes in 1087 and the church was burned down along with most of the town. William left funds for the church’s rebuilding, although what we see today was yet another rebuilding from the middle to late 12th century.

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