Église Saint-Justinien

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Ministère de la Culture, in French. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Ministère de la Culture; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

History

The church is said to have been founded by Charlemagne who would have freed the inhabitants of the place, in perpetuity, from all taxation and impositions to reward them for their good offices following a great battle waged against the Infidels on their territory. Letters patent from Francis I to Louis XVI confirm these privileges. The present building is not earlier than the 12th century. It partly collapsed in 1720 (north wall of the nave and probably the bell tower), and was partly rebuilt. The brick vault of the nave dates from 1876. The church comprises a nave of six unequal bays. False transept crossing. A semi-circular apse is attached to the east. The vaults of the choir and apse are in stone. On the south side, at the level of the choir, is found a chapel of the 15th century. The south wall of the nave has in part preserved its original disposition. It is thicker beneath the great arches and is articulated by column buttresses terminating in a cone. A cornice crowns it, supported by carved modillions. The square bell tower, mounted on the false transept crossing, is of one storey, pierced by two round arch openings on each face. It appears to have been re-erected in the 18th century, perhaps at the same time as the north wall of the nave.