Église Saint-Georges

English translation

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History

The village of Saint-Georges-Motel is situated south of the department of Eure, north of Dreux. It is placed in the valley of the Eure, on the left bank near the confluence with the Avre. The church of Saint-Georges is located in the town. Since these lands, which formed a frontier between the duchy of Normandy and the county of Blois, were coveted by both lords, notably between the second half of the 10th century and the beginning of the 11th century, the church of Saint-Georges-Motel is mentioned in a charter dating from 965 which refers to its donation to the abbey of Saint-Père de Chartres. However, according to architectural observations and radiocarbon analysis, the present building would be more recent and would date from the 11th century. It is nevertheless remarkable to note that the nave and the choir are the result of a homogeneous building campaign. Subsequently the building was altered. In the 16th century the roof structure was rebuilt and large openings were made. Two of them retain their flamboyant tracery and their original stained glass: the Dormition of the Virgin and The Tree of Jesse. The bell tower in the western façade is a construction of the late 18th century. Finally, in contemporary times repairs and restoration work have been carried out: repairs to certain openings, consolidation or reconstruction of certain buttresses. The church consists of a single-vessel nave followed by a narrower choir with a semi-circular apse chevet. A bell tower is attached to the western façade. It is made of flint with brick around the openings and angle chain courses. The nave and choir are built of rubble stone arranged in regular courses. To the east of the nave are two doors whose archings are in fine limestone voussoirs. Buttresses of narrow and flat small limestone ashlar adorn the outer walls of the nave. Some have been repaired using underpinning or completely reconstructed in brick in the 19th century. The buttresses of the choir are contemporary. Inside the roof structure with trusses and purlins is panelled. The walls are decorated with false ashlar work with rosettes dating from the 19th century. Traces of older wall paintings are visible, including an old funeral cartouche.