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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of the Nativity-de-Notre-Dame de Pogny, located in the Marne department, is a religious building dating back to the 12th century. The nave, transept and cross tower, built in the second half of the 12th century, bear witness to its Romanesque heritage. The nave, with three vessels and five spans, presents fasciculated piles reminiscent of those of the abbey Saint-Rémi de Reims. The Romanesque choir, perhaps burned between the 13th and 14th centuries, was rebuilt around 1500 in Gothic style, with major modifications such as the addition of absidioles and a vault key dated 1535.

In the 18th century, the collaterals were expanded and the façade was redone, transforming the nave windows into internal openings towards the lower side. The bell tower, rebuilt on the Romane strain, was damaged during the two world wars. In 1914, the church was bombarded and then classified as a Historic Monument in 1915. The restorations, begun in 1931, were followed by further destruction in 1940, where the bell tower, the roofs and the vaults of the choir collapsed. The final restoration, carried out between 1947 and 1956, restored to the building its cult function.

Church architecture combines Romanesque elements, such as broken arch arcades and fasciculated piles, with Gothic and modern additions. The interior dimensions (35.38 m long, 17.45 m wide) underline its importance in the local religious landscape. The bell tower, surmounted by a quadrangular dome and a sharp arrow, dominates the building. The post-Second World War restoration work, including a reinforced concrete frame and an oak ceiling, has preserved this historical heritage.

Historical sources, such as the studies of René Crozet (1927) or Pierre Heliot (1968), highlight the architectural importance of Pogny, especially for its fasciculated piles and its stylistic evolution. The bombings of the two world wars profoundly marked the building, requiring major interventions for its preservation. Today, the church remains a testimony to the architectural transformations and historical vicissitudes of the Champagne-Ardenne region.

The classification of Historic Monuments in 1915, followed by successive restorations, illustrates the desire to preserve this heritage. Architects Ventre (1915), Haubold (1941) and Pillet (1950) played a key role in his safeguard. The reconstruction of the bell tower in 1953 and the reopening to worship in 1956 mark the end of a painful chapter, while stressing the resilience of this place of memory and faith.

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