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A couple of people kindly asked to know more about the tiny church I showed in my Sunday post. I saw this little stone building for the first time on the way to a brocante yesterday, and was intrigued by it’s unusual shape outlined on the horizon.
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I looked up the history. The 11th century church was originally part of the village, now called Chateau sur Epte. Around 1096, a Duke of Normandy decided he needed a fortified castle, and of course chose to build it on the highest point in his duchy. Now, an empty fortified castle is not a great deal of use so – without running a poll on people’s opinion! – he moved the existing village to within the defending wall of the castle, thus creating a void around what was the village church. As the church was used less and less, and people started building more, they found that the easiest place to source stones for building was the old church ……. and began to dismantle it.
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The tiny edifice we see today was in fact a small wing of the original structure, but is the only bit left intact. Farmers ploughing in the area regularly turn up huge pieces of pale stone in the fields, reminders of the sad cannibalisation.
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Besides its size, I was also struck by the fantastic view from the church and graveyard, totally quiet and isolated.
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[white]It was a nice surprise to find the door wide open, most unusual these days, and of course once inside the stunning sky blue wooden ceiling.
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[white]I expected to find other people there, waylaid like myself after visiting the brocante, but my only company were the names on the gravestones, and the song of a skylark – happy days.
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[white]Thank you for letting me share this peaceful interlude in my busy day.
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36 comments
What a lovely story Ive enjoyed the 2 posts its so pretty too and as you say how lovely to find the door open ENJOY
Fay xx
Thank you for posting more about the church. It is lovely and I'm so glad the door was open for us to be able to join you.
Thanks so much for this fascinating story. I love old churches and this one is so beautiful. Great photos. Mumzie
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing. Don't you love that in Europe you have recorded history that is that old (and older!)
Oh it's beautiful, thanks for the detailed tour & history, wow, such history!! Love Posie
What a beautiful little church, thank you for sharing. A highlight of my short time living in Brittany was the opportunity to visit all the amazing churches, cathedrals and other old buildings.
That is incredible….beautiful things do come in small packages. What a special and spirtitual looking place:)
Oh what a lovely little church and such an interesting history.
I think that it would be a wonderful place to get married, but would probably have to be a small wedding !!
I love little churches like that and what a beautiful view. XXXX
What a beautiful church and surroundings. Thanks so much for telling us the story.
stunning. I can feel the quiet from your beautiful photos, thank you for sharing this.
joan
What a wonderful way to start my day. Merci beaucoup! Lovely photographs…
stylishserendipity.blogspot.com
Oh I just love old churches and the history behind them. It was fortunate that a piece was left behind and still set up inside. When I go to Europe, I always gravitate to their beautiful churches and the history behind them.
Thanks for sharing.
Bonjour Sharron,
Merci, pour partager cette histoire sur cette église magnifique. Mais, c'est dommage que les bancs viennent de CASA.
Bonne journée
Jérôme
One of the things I loved most about exploring France were all of the original churches. You cannot replicate this look or history. I'm glad you took the time to breath it the beauty with the Angels that are surrounding the church.
Beautiful. Thanks for the history behind the pictures!
Dianne
OXOX
Eine wunderschöne Kirche! So etwas schönes gibt es nur in Frankreich!
Viele liebe Grüße,
Yvonne
oh darlin' … the view of the alter and the interior made me gasp …
aren't you glad you wandered on up to the door??
It's almost sweeter that just this part was saved. Like your prayers and thoughts and little moments of peace are even closer, all wrapped up in this jewelbox of a place.
That little church is so beautiful and I'm glad you found out more about it. The ceiling was more then likely painted blue to ward off flying insects something we do on our porch ceilings in New England.
It is so charming and the view is stunning. I can never resist quaint little places like this. You captured it beautifully. Thank you
A beautiful and quite place to reflect. How wonderful! We all could use a visit to a church like this from time to time.
That church is so lovely. It must have been a treat to explore it and find such a beautiful interior. What a lovely part of the world you live in.
Oh Sharon, what a lovely little place of worship! Just spectacular and breath taking. I feel if I lived near, that it would be a favourite place for me to stop in and reflect. Thank you for sharing that little bit of history.
This is absolutely THE most amazing post. I read a TON of Scottish and British medieval history and this just touched my soul in a way I can't quite describe.
I love this post [ and the last one, too] and had to call my husband to share it with me. This little church is a jewel. Thank you for stopping there. We're visiting Normandy in July, and your blog will more than keep us enthused until we get back to France!
What a spectacular post–simply charming!
The painting on the wall appears to be of St. Martin of Tours sharing his cloak with the beggar.(St. Martin served in the Roman Army in the 350s, near Amiens. He was a friend of St. Hilary of Poitiers, and later became Bishop of Tours (370 A. D.)
How dear is that wee cemetery? I can imagine the peaceful moment you must have had there.
I have seen a similar very tiny church– with amazing stained glass windows–in the forest above a valley in the Aveyron area.
And, I wonder if they might still have some service there? The cloth on the altar looked fresh.
Thank you for sharing this delightful, endearing bit of your countryside.
What a great post! I often wonder about certain places and then forget to look them up later on. What interesting history this church has.
~ Clare x
The icon of St. Martin of Tours is lovely!
Bonjour Sharon !
J'adore ce genre d'endroit…
Céline.
I remember visiting so many adorable churches like this when we lived for a short time in Wales. They were so small and oozed with grace. This is something you just don't see in the US. Wonderful photo tour, thank!
What a beautiful post. You hit on two of my loves, painting en plein aire and painting churches and religious images. One can sense the holiness from centuries of prayer within these walls.Thank you for brightening my day.
Helentilstonpainter.blogspot.com
How beautiful! I will be revisiting this post to enjoy these serene and lovely images.
Linda igreja, parecida com as nossas das cidades históricas, de Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Parabéns pelo blog, pelas feiras, pela casa, pelo jardim…tudo maravilhoso e muito belo!
What a treasure…
I saw many treasures on your blog.
amazing perfectly
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