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Origin and history

The Saint-Martin de Villers-sur-Mer church, located in Normandy, is a neo-Gothic building built in the 19th century. It replaces an old church dedicated to Saint Martin, whose nave dated from the 11th century and the 13th century choir. The population growth linked to the development of the seaside resort has made it necessary to rebuild, more spacious and adapted to the needs of the local population.

The construction of the new church, entrusted to architect Aimar Lavalley-Duperroux, pupil of Viollet-le-Duc, began in 1872 with the laying of the first stone by Bishop Flavian Hugonin. The building, made of limestone from Caen or Ranville, adopts a Latin cross plan and is financed by the inhabitants, quests, donations and loans. His neo-Gothic style and decor, including the glass windows, earned him a ranking in historical monuments in 2006.

Inside, the sculptures of the altar and pulpit are the work of the Jacquier Brothers, while the 51 glass windows, made in three stages by the Duhamel-Marette house, adorn the building. The stalls of the choir, decorated with mercies representing various motifs (dragons, faces of children, bouquets of fruit), add to the artistic richness of the church. It remains an active place of worship, dedicated to Saint Martin de Tours and Saint Stephen, within the parish of Saint-Sauveur-de-la-Côte-Fleurie.

The church embodies both a remarkable architectural heritage and a place of religious life, welcoming Sunday Masses and weekday celebrations. Its porch houses a wooden statue of St.Martin, symbol of its history and spiritual vocation.

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