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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Church of Notre-Dame de Cauroy-lès-Hermonville, located in the village of the same name in the Grand Est region, is a Romanesque building whose origins date back to the 12th century. It was historically dependent on the Hôtel-Dieu de Reims and is dedicated to Nicaise de Reims and Notre-Dame. It was classified as a historic monument in 1862 and suffered extensive damage during the First World War, requiring partial restoration, particularly for its carpented nave, which still retains carved heads of that period.

The structure has preserved prominent novel elements, such as its tower at the cross of the transept and a porch-gallery among the oldest in the region. This porch, dating from 1140, has capitals decorated with various motifs (interlaced rubans, palmettes, animals, human figures), some of which could represent Samson and Dalila. Originally, the entrance was through the lateral openings, with the central opening being posterior. The choir, for its part, bears the date of 1539, testifying to subsequent changes.

The church furniture includes remarkable pieces that survived the destruction, such as a group of four 17th-century cerferal angels and a retable of 1547. These elements illustrate the artistic and religious evolution of the place, between medieval heritage and Renaissance additions. The building, owned by the commune, remains a major architectural and historical testimony of the Marne, linked to both the Christian heritage and the upheavals of the twentieth century.

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