Possible origin of old parts XIIe siècle (≈ 1250)
Mentioned by Monumentum without precision.
1842
Construction of church
Construction of church 1842 (≈ 1842)
Built by Sébastien Dellêtre, neo-Gothic style.
17 juillet 1926
Classification of the apse
Classification of the apse 17 juillet 1926 (≈ 1926)
Registered as a Historic Monument.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Sébastien Dellêtre - Architect
Church designer in 1842.
Louis Duvêtre - Contemporary architect
Author of the church of the Void (1842).
Joly-Leterme - Contemporary architect
Worked on Vivy and Chênehutte-les-Tuffeaux.
Origin and history
The church of Notre-Dame de Beaulieu-sur-Layon, located in the department of Maine-et-Loire, is a notable example of 19th-century neo-Gothic architecture. Built in 1842 by architect Sébastien Dellêtre, it replaces an earlier building in ruins. Its exterior style is mainly limited to bays, while the interior adopts typical elements of the Gothic Angelvin, such as columns and vaults, reflecting a desire for medieval renewal in the region.
The church is one of the first in Maine-et-Loire to incorporate stained glass windows, including a reissue of the Life of the Virgin of Lusson, originally designed for the church of the Couture du Mans. It is part of a trio of neo-medieval buildings built in the same year, alongside the churches of the Void (by Louis Duvetre) and Vivy (by Joly-Leterme). These buildings mark a turning point in the Angeline religious architecture, mixing medieval heritage and 19th century innovations.
Although its apse has been listed as a Historical Monument since 1926, the church remains a testimony to the evolution of architectural styles in Anjou. His plan is also inspired by the contemporary work of Joly-Leterme, such as those carried out at Chênehutte-les-Tuffeaux or Brain-sur-Allonnes, where neoclassicism and neo-gothic coexist. Today, it belongs to the municipality and continues to play a central role in the local heritage.
