église Notre-Dame la Profonde

Église Notre-Dame la Profonde is what remains of a medieval monastic church in Laon, a town in the Aisne department of northern France. Today only stretches of wall and a row of buttresses survive, and a small 19th-century Protestant chapel has been built directly against them — one of the more unusual layers of history you'll find in the town's old quarter.

Where does the name come from and what happened to the church?

The site's story starts in 648, when Saint Salaberga founded a Benedictine convent in Laon. The convent church was dedicated to Notre-Dame from the outset, and the nickname "la Profonde" ("the deep one") was used to distinguish it from Laon's other Notre-Dame — the cathedral standing in the upper town. The monastic church was rebuilt in the 12th century, during the height of Gothic building activity in the region. Its fortunes turned during the Wars of Religion: the building was razed in 1590 when Henri IV's troops besieged Laon. It was never restored to its original form or function afterward.

What can visitors actually see today?

What survives from the old convent church is mainly a set of buttresses and sections of the perimeter wall that withstood the 16th-century destruction. In 1887, a small Protestant temple was built directly against these medieval remains — on ground once used in the 17th century as a training and shooting range for the town's arquebusiers (musketeers), which is why the street here is called Rue de l'Arquebuse (the church stands at number 4). The result is a striking layering effect: rough medieval stone buttresses supporting a plain 19th-century chapel facade, two very different eras of construction sharing the same footprint. The medieval remains were listed as a historic monument by decree on 13 June 1927.

How do you get there?

Église Notre-Dame la Profonde sits in Laon's historic upper town (Ville Haute), close to the Notre-Dame de Laon cathedral and the other landmarks of the old city. Walking is the easiest way to reach it — Laon's old town is compact, and most sights are within a short stroll of one another. A vintage cable-hauled funicular (poma) connects the lower town to the upper town for anyone who wants to skip the climb.

When is the best time to visit?

The site can be visited year-round since it's seen mainly from the outside, with the walls and buttresses visible at any time of day. Spring and early autumn are the most comfortable seasons for exploring Ville Haute on foot. It pairs well with a visit to the cathedral and the town's medieval ramparts, letting you cover the historic center's main highlights in a single day.

Frequently asked questions

Is église Notre-Dame la Profonde still an active church? No. The original monastic church was destroyed in 1590 and was never rebuilt for its original purpose. Its surviving walls were later used as a support structure for a small Protestant chapel built in 1887.

Who founded the abbey linked to this church? The Benedictine convent in Laon was founded in 648 by Saint Salaberga, and its church was dedicated to Notre-Dame from the start.

Why was the church called "la Profonde"? The nickname "the deep one" set it apart from Laon's cathedral, also dedicated to Notre-Dame — since both churches shared the same dedication, a second name was needed to tell them apart.

Is the site a protected historic monument? Yes. The surviving remains of the old convent church were listed as a French historic monument by decree on 13 June 1927.