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Origin and history

The church Notre-Dame de Senonches, located in the department of Eure-et-Loir, was built in the 12th century under the impulse ofHugues II, lord of Châteauneuf. Originally, it was integrated into a defensive system, with a tower transforming the former abbey into a fortified church. This tower, used as an observation and defence post, could house up to 1,000 people in the event of a siege. Its architectural features, such as foothills, murderers and Romanesque windows, reflect its military role.

Over the centuries, the church has undergone changes, especially in the 16th and 19th centuries, where a clock and a bell tower were added. In 1927, its 12th century bell tower was listed as historical monuments. During the Second World War, the church was damaged during the fighting on June 16, 1940, then restored after the war. A stained glass window commemorates this event. Between 2003 and subsequent years, significant restoration work was undertaken to preserve this heritage.

The church also houses a major work by Venetian painter Federico Bencovich, Saint Andrew among Saints Bartholomew, Carlo Borromeo, Lucie and Apollonie, made between 1710 and 1716. It once belonged to the Benedictines of Saint-Père-en-Vallée Abbey until 1776. Today, it remains a symbol of Senonches' religious and historical heritage, linked to medieval history and subsequent transformations of the region.

The tower, with its thirty-two looks and eighteen windows, illustrates medieval defensive architecture. It was designed to withstand seats, thanks to its robust materials such as grass, flint and flat bricks. The nave and choir, typical of Romanesque churches, complete this emblematic building of the Perche, a region marked by its feudal history and its federal forests.

Senonches, surrounded by the largest federal forest in Eure-et-Loir, has always been a strategic crossroads between the Thymerais and Perche. The church, with its role both religious and military, reflects this historical importance. The bells, some of which date from the 19th century, and the high altar of 1863, testify to the additions after its initial construction.

Today, Notre-Dame Church remains a place of worship and a visitable monument, symbol of the medieval past and the architectural transformations of Senonches. Its inscription in historical monuments in 1927 and recent restorations ensure its preservation for future generations.

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