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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church Notre-Dame de La Bouteille is a fortified church built on the municipality of the same name, in the department of Aisne. Initially, the glassmakers installed by Foigny Abbey in 1517 had only a wooden chapel. The current building was erected in 1547, marking the beginning of its architectural history.

The church is distinguished by its parallelogram form, flanked by four corner turrets, the last of which was only added in 1860. An elegant arrow, built from the beginning, was modified in the 19th century: a first arrow, considered too high in 1821, was replaced by a shorter second before the bell tower was restored in its shape before 1821. These transformations reflect the technical and aesthetic concerns of successive eras.

The church houses a 15th-century chalice, from Foigny Abbey, showing the historical links between the monument and this religious institution. Partly classified as historical monuments in 1995 (only the four turrets are protected), it illustrates the defensive architecture of the churches of Thiérache, adapted to the frequent conflicts of the region.

The modifications of the 19th century, such as the construction of the second outer bell tower by French engineers in charge of mapping France, show the evolution of usages and techniques. Today, the church retains its original arrow, integrated into a more recent structure, while preserving its medieval character and religious function.

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