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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Martin de Ciry-Salsogne, located in the department of Aisne in the Hauts-de-France region, was destroyed in late August 1918 during the First World War. Its reconstruction, carried out between 1924 and 1926, was entrusted to architect Édouard Monestès, specialist of the churches in Picardia. The latter opted for an innovative reinforced concrete structure, hidden under a calcareous stone envelope to preserve the traditional appearance of local buildings, such as the redent gables and the double-built bell tower. The interior space, redesigned to meet the liturgical expectations of the time, is marked by a concrete vault and four carved columns.

The decoration of the church attracted major artists from the 1920s. Jacques Martin realized the capitals and bas-reliefs, while Louis Billotey designed the glass windows and paintings of the Way of the Cross. A notable feature is the presence of a statue of Christ, a small model of the Corcovado de Rio de Janeiro, offered by his sculptor Paul Landowski — a friend of Monestès — during the blessing of the building in 1926. This work symbolizes the link between French sacred art and the major international projects of the inter-war period.

The church was presented at the exhibition of modern religious art in Rouen in 1932, highlighting its pioneering character. Ranked a historical monument in 2007, it illustrates post-Great War reconstruction, combining technical audacity (armed cement) and picard stylistic heritage. Its furniture, including eucharistic mosaics and stained glass with geometric or narrative motifs (like Saint Martin's Charity), reflects the artistic currents of the era.

Prior to its destruction, the ancient medieval church (XIIth–XIIIth centuries) depended on the diocese of Soissons and was linked to the priory of Coincy. After 1918, a temporary cult was celebrated in a wooden hut during the construction. Today, the building reflects both the resilience of local communities and the evolution of architectural practices in the 20th century, where modernity and tradition coexist in one place of memory.

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