Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame de Courdemanche, located in the eponymous commune of the department of Sarthe (Pays de la Loire), has its origins in the 11th century, although its major transformations date back to the 16th and 18th centuries. The building, originally Romanesque architecture, was enlarged in the 16th century by the addition of a northern collateral, two side chapels, and an crypt dedicated to Our Lady of Consolation, housing a rare painting of the Last Supper of the German School. These changes reflect the evolution of liturgical needs and artistic taste, mixing medieval heritage and Renaissance influences.

In the 18th century, the church experienced a new embellishment, marked by the construction of the tower of the bell tower between 1767 and 1769, as well as the installation of a terracotta altarpiece in 1818. The stained glass windows of the abside, created after the removal of this altarpiece, and the stained glass of Christ on a cross on a Tuscan background (accompanied by the epitaph of John of La Mothe) are among the most remarkable elements. These works, classified as Historic Monuments, illustrate the heritage richness of the building, despite a worrying state of conservation, especially for its roof.

The church was included in the additional inventory of the Historic Monuments on 4 February 2002, recognizing its historical and artistic value. Owned by the commune, it now embodies a testimony of the architectural and religious transformations of the Sarthe, from the Middle Ages to the modern era. Its stained glass window and painting, protected as objects, underline the importance of its preservation for future generations.

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