Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Notre-Dame de Magneville Church is a Catholic building located in the village of Magneville, in the department of Manche, Normandy. Mentioned from the 11th century, it was rebuilt between the 12th and 15th centuries: the choir dates from the 12th century, the 13th century nave, and the bell tower, completed in 1481, closed the major works. An inscription attests to the latter date, while the more recent apse dates back to the 19th century. The building thus combines Romanesque, Gothic and modern elements, reflecting its turbulent history.

The transformations continued in the 19th century, with the addition of a plaster vault in the nave in 1862 and the construction of the apse. The church houses remarkable furniture, including 12th century polychrome baptismal fonts, classified as historical monuments in 1998. These elements, like the square tank decorated with human faces, bear witness to its Romanesque heritage. A 17th century altarpiece dedicated to the Order of Trinitarians, as well as 15th and 16th century statues, complete this heritage.

The building has been listed as historic monuments since December 19, 1985, recognizing its architectural and historical value. Among its particularities, we note capitals with floral motifs and glass windows of the 19th and 20th centuries, signed by artists Paul Bony and Gérard Bourget. These elements underline its continuing role in local religious and cultural life, from medieval times to the present.

The location of the church at 76 Le Ferage in Magneville is documented in the Mérimée base under the code Insee 50285. Owned by the commune, it remains an active place of worship and a testimony to the artistic and social evolutions of Normandy. Its inscription among historical monuments also makes it an object of study for the history of Christian architecture in Lower Normandy.

External links