Église Saint-Médard

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

This Romanesque church occupies the central place of the village of Saint-Mard. The former cemetery, which surrounded it until 1842, is now laid out as a charming orchard with a rural character. From the 12th century dates the general design of the building: its interior portal with round arch, the bell tower for its lower and middle parts, its single nave and the semi-circular apse. The Romanesque period is evident in the profile of the semi-circular windows, the cornices with modillions on the south elevation, the flat buttresses. In the 14th century the porch nave was built. In the 16th century, the windows were enlarged by adding flamboyant tracery, and the tower was heightened with a half-hipped roof with exposed gable. In the 17th century, the façade was ornamented with a portal, and buttresses were added to strengthen the church. Various restorations took place in the 18th century, and a sacristy was built to the east of the apse. The interior of the church contains a remarkable assemblage of moveable objects, most of which are protected, and the quality of the decoration of the choir wainscoting must be emphasized. The general harmony of this church, which presents much character and architectural quality, has not been altered by its successive transformations.