Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Church of Notre-Dame de La Celle-Guenand, located in the Indre-et-Loire department in the Centre-Val de Loire region, is a Catholic building with a composite architecture. Its Romanesque choir, classified as historical monuments, and its registered baptismal fonts testify to its heritage importance. The nave of the 12th century, covered with an ovoid dome on pendants, and the wooden bell tower on octagonal dome illustrate the transition between Romanesque and Gothic styles. The Romanesque sculptures, attributed to Denis' workshop between 1130 and 1150, add great artistic value.

The village of La Celle-Guenand, divided until 1570 into two chestnuts (La Celle-Guenand and La Celle-Draon), saw its church evolve through the centuries. The first span was restored in the 14th century, while major changes took place in the 15th century, such as the reconstruction of the bedside and the addition of a seigneurial chapel in place of the southern absidiole. Closed in 2004 for damage, the church benefited from the Heritage Lotto in 2018, allowing its reopening in 2020 after the restoration of its facades and portal.

The construction campaigns range from the 11th to 11th centuries (original carpentry nave) to the first half of the 13th century (nave vault) and the 15th century (clocher, stair tower, bedside). In the 18th century, the nave was divided into three vaulted vessels, while in 1836 restorations (chorus, gables of the transept) and drills (archcades towards the sacristy) were carried out by the Mason Pasquier. The building, a communal property since its classification in 1908, blends flat tiles, slates, and limestone elements, reflecting its turbulent history.

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