Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativity church of Raffetot, located in the Seine-Maritime department in Normandy, is a religious building whose origins date back to at least the thirteenth century. The bell tower, dated from this period, bears witness to its medieval heritage, while the choir, rebuilt in the sixteenth century, illustrates the architectural evolutions of the Renaissance. The building, partially renovated in the 17th and 18th centuries (Nef, seigneurial chapel), preserves characteristic elements such as early 17th century baptismal fonts and a glass window offered in 1607.

The church is closely linked to local history, serving as a burial place for lords, including Charles Deschamps de Boishébert (1729–97). Given in 1164 to the Priory Saint-Lô de Rouen by Robert de Calletot, it has benefited from donations and works over the centuries, such as the partial reconstruction of the nave in 1766 or the addition of a sacristy in 1880. Ranked a historic monument in 1926 for its choir and bell tower, it embodies the religious and seigneurial heritage of the region.

The seigneurial chapel, built in 1607 with a tomb, reflects the funeral practices of the Norman aristocracy. The archives mention repairs to the structure in 1707 and covers re-established in the 18th century, highlighting the continued maintenance of the building. The 16th century bays, preserved in the nave, and the baptismal fonts of 1608 recall its central role in parish life, between worship, memory and local power.

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