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Origin and history

The Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Coursegoules church, located in the Alpes-Maritimes, is an emblematic building of Provencal Romanesque style. Built probably in the 12th century during the expansion of the village, it initially had a single nave of three spans, ending with a semicircular choir vaulted in cul-de-four. Underlying caves or catacombs, as well as similarities with 8th-century tombs, suggest that it was erected on an older building, perhaps a pre-existing place of worship or burial.

In the seventeenth century, in the face of population growth, the church was enlarged in 1658 with the addition of two collaterals, as evidenced by the date engraved on the south wall. This expansion was confirmed by Bishop Antoine Godeau during his pastoral visit in 1654, pointing out that the building had been "enlarged by two wings, embellished and well whitened". The collaterals, vaulted with ridges, contrast with the central nave in broken cradle, reflecting the architectural and liturgical evolutions of the era.

The church underwent subsequent changes, including restoration in 2007 and installation of new bells in 2008. Its bell tower, mentioned in 1715, overlooks the triumphal arch and was covered with a roof in the pavilion after work after 1846. Ranked as a historical monument since 1982, it has retained remarkable furniture, including a retable by Louis Bréa (circa 1500), stolen in 1999 and replaced by a reproduction, as well as a ciborium offered by Napoleon III in 1864.

Its military history is also notable: the apse, first raised in the 14th century, served as a flanking tower for the village enclosure. A second rise, pierced by murderers in the 17th century, bears witness to regional tensions. Today, the church combines medieval heritage, Baroque adaptations and defensive traces, embodying nearly nine centuries of local history.

The furniture, although reduced over the centuries, still includes exceptional pieces such as a 16th century processional silver copper cross and an offering dish. These objects, registered or classified, underline the central role of the church in the religious and social life of Coursegoules, from the Middle Ages to the contemporary era.

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