CASTLE AND SAINT EVREMOND CHURCH

The first castle of Creil (Palatium Credilii) was described as “cretheltense castrum”at the time when it was devastated by the Norman in 860 and 894. Behind the city hall, on the site of the Collegiate Saint Evremont, we can see the vestiges of the old castle rebuilt by Charles V in the 14th century (in 1374), on the site of a much older castle. It was sold by prince of Condé and destroyed in 1780.
Many kings of France, from Saint Louis to Louis XIV, stayed there, in particular Charles VI, who got treated for madness there. It's in the Gallé Juillet house which has become a municipal museum that we can find the oldest elements (XIII century).
Built in XIII century in the vicinity of the castle, the Saint Evremont Collegiate didn't undergo any changes for 5 centuries, one let it age quietly. But in 1767, the cardinal of Gesvres, bishop of Beauvais, had to bar its access to the public, its derelict state making it dangerous. Some repair work was undertaken, the gate disappeared in 1782 in order to build a barn where people paid tithes; on the new frames, slates replaced the old tiles. On April 30, 1791, the collegiate was sold as national property. In 1825, the bell-tower was destroyed, and, so the two aisles in 1876. It was destroyed at the beginning of the century to allow the construction of the city hall after having been used as stores for the earthenware manufacture. The capitals and other vestiges which could be saved at the time of the demolition are preserved at the museum.

THE GALLE JUILLET MUSEUM

At the end of the court of the city hall yard, we can see a beautiful residence surrounded by its French gardens : the Gallé Juillet house is a musem now. Middle-class family residence of XIX century, the House Gallé Juillet was built in 1788 on a part of the ruins of the castle of Charles V . With its 19 rooms, the house evokes the provincial life of the middle-class of the time.Famous characters lived there : the English man Jacques Bagnall, in the first part of XIX century, the technical director of the earthenware manufacture whose products made the name of Creil famous (1800-1895), Doctor Jules Juillet, his nephew by marriage, mayor of Creil under Napoléon III, then Ernest Gallé, son-in-law of Doctor Juillet, friend of the arts, cousin of the Boulanger of Choisy le Roi and Emile Gallé, famous glassmaker of Nancy. Nearer to us, Auguste and Berthe Gallé whose only son Maurice died in Bouchavesnes in 1916 at the age of 22.
In der to avoid the disappearance of the accumulated memories in this house over one century, Auguste and Berthe Gallé gave the whole of the property to the city as long as it preserves its character completly.
In this place inhabitated by three successive generations and filled with a multitude of objects, ornaments, clothes, items of great value will be noticed. Furniture, paintings and earthenware mix there harmoniously.When visiting this two-stoyered house, you will be surprised by the particular atmosphere of each room. The very picturesque kitchen, under its vaults of XIII century, contains glowing copper objects including a splendid fountain of XVIII century. The blue Living-room is furnished with pedestal tables, writing desks and Empire armchairs in tapestry of Beauvais which represents the Fables of La Fontaine. The XVIII century is represented by a chest of drawers in red lacquer, pastels, consoles and Sèvres china ware coming from the furniture of the princess of Lamballe where Martin Juillet, ancestor of the Doctor served. A man's dressing table by Cordier is the most outstanding item of the Masters' room.The smoking-room, the billiard room, two typically masculine rooms, as well as Maurice Gallé's room make a contrast with the boudoir, where we can imagine the life of the different ladies who stayed in this house. On the second floor, in addition to the three beautiful rooms, we will admire Empire and Restoration style, a collection of toys, tin soldiers and antique dolls, shells and fossils and especially the room reserved to the earthenware of Creil. The objects which are exhibited show the great diversity and the evolution of the production of earthenware of Creil and Montereau in XIX century.The works of amateur painters or famous painters such as Oudry, Giraldon, Aubigny, Dupré,...decorate the walls of almost all the rooms. We will be able to admire very beautiful clocks One of which (the one in the kitchen) still sounds the hours and gives life to the House Gallé Juillet.

Moreover, a valuable collection of Gallo-roman coins is on display in one of the ogival rooms of the museum

Gallé Juillet Museum – Court of the castle 60100 CREIL 00 33(0)3 44 29 51 50)

THE TEMPLE OF LOVE

The kiosk, built at the far end of the Island Saint-Maurice, upstream, dates back to XVIII century.

It is sometimes called “temple of love” and was listed historic building in 1924. The island Saint Maurice was thus called by Mrs Gallé in memory of her son Maurice who was killed during the WWI.

THE "TUFS"

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THE SAINT MEDARD CHURCH

The design of the Saint-Médard church is the one of the strangest we have ever seen. Its history undoubtedly explains its odd shape. But, this story is also closely related to that of the town of Creil.

This city was strengthened very early in the Middle Ages, Creil was completely surrounded by thick walls and made up a rectangle approximately 125 meters wide and 300 meters long. The church wasbuilt on a very narrow site.The choir was placed against the wall. The building, in a way, was crushed to the wall and took its odd shape.But, by its position, the church was partly, even almost completely destroyed during many sieges that the city had to undergo during the Middle Ages.

Everytime, it was restored or rebuilt, which explains the diversity of its architectural styles.

From XII century, until and including XVI century, each century gave it its particular note there. The primitive bell-tower has also disappeared, replaced in XVI century by the current tower topped by an arrow and built away from the nave.

THE CITY HALL

THE CROSS OF THE RIVER

The cross which is currently in the middle of the bridge of Creil was built in 1759 on the former bridge. It was the emblem of the Master bridge. Withdrawn in 1851, the cross of the Bargemen was rebuilt on the request of the boatmen, near the river, in 1948.

THE THEATER

Right before the butchers' bridge, on one of the branches of the Oise, the theatre was built in 1882 / (700 seats, 2 balconies) by Mr MARTIN, a wholesale wine merchant, in order to please his wife, a former ballet dancer. It became a cinema-theatre in 1926.