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Origin and history

The church Notre-Dame de L'Heur is located in the hamlet of L'Heur, on the town of Caours, in the department of the Somme. Although its origin may date back to the 9th or 10th century, its current structure dates mainly from the 16th century, with a choir rebuilt in the 17th century. It is known for having sheltered a reliquary Romanesque bust, the Virgin of the Hour, before which King Louis XI would have gathered. This reliquary was associated with a belief of protection against epidemics. A wooden statue from the Virgin to the Child, dated from the 16th century and in Gothic style, is still preserved there.

The building features a hybrid architecture: the nave, made of stone and reinforced by foothills, contrasts with the choir, built of brick and stone in alternating beds. The bell tower, in the shape of an arrow covered with slates, dominates the facade. The Romanesque portal and the structures, inscribed in historic monuments in 1926, bear witness to its medieval heritage. The tile cover and the presence of remarkable yousures complete its architectural features.

The church is now owned by the commune of Caours. Its partial inscription (carpente et voussures) as historic monuments in 1926 underscores its heritage importance. It remains a place of worship and a witness to the religious and architectural traditions of Picardia, between Romanesque and Gothic influences. Its location, about ten kilometers from Abbeville, makes it a point of local interest in the Hauts-de-France region.

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