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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame d'Aubenton, located in the Aisne department in the Hauts-de-France region, is a fortified church whose construction began in 1044. This monument, typical of defensive religious architecture, includes a 14th century dungeon and a western facade decorated with a Romanesque portal. Its history is marked by major reconstructions, especially in the 19th century, where more than three quarters of the building were restored or rebuilt. The south side, funded in 1893 by Ms. Flore Dapremont, and the bell tower, restored in 2013, testify to this recent work.

The church houses exceptional furniture, including stalls, a pulpit and a 17th century carved wooden confessional, from the pre-monstrated abbey of Bucilly. Among its remarkable elements are a ceiling with wooden box painted, financed in 1685 by Mademoiselle de Guise and restored in 1840, as well as a clock excavated in the fortified bell tower. Several objects, such as paintings (including The Marriage of Cana and The Assumption of the Virgin), an altar, a altarpiece and an organ buffet, are classified as historical monuments.

Classified as a historical monument by decree of 30 September 1994, Notre-Dame Church illustrates the architectural and religious evolution of the Thierache, an area known for its fortified churches. Its strategic location, at the crossroads of the roads between Rumigny and Hirson and Laon to Rosoy, underscores its historic importance in the local landscape. Abbés Pierre Piette (until 1742) and François Armant Ducarne (1742-1755) marked his ecclesiastical history.

The monument, owned by the commune of Aubenton, also retains traces of its medieval defensive function, with a dungeon adjacent to the north. Its furniture and interior decorations, enriched by successive gifts and restorations, reflect the artistic and religious influences of medieval, modern and contemporary times. Today, it remains a living witness to the religious and military heritage of historical Picardia.

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