Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame de Mortagne-au-Perche, located in the Orne department in Normandy, was built between 1494 and 1535 to replace a seigneurial chapel destroyed during the Hundred Years War. This flamboyant Gothic monument, classified as Historic Monuments in 1910 (excluding bell tower), is distinguished by its adorned northern portal, pendant vaults and stained glass windows. Its history is marked by successive reconstructions, notably after the fire of 1887 and the collapse of its tower in 1890, revealing remains of the medieval enclosure of Toussaint.

The reconstruction of the church at the turn of the sixteenth century is part of an urban renaissance after the ravages of the war. The bell tower, initially bent by a Dome Dordoise around 1620, was partially rebuilt after its destruction to house the clock and bells. The 16th century works expanded the building, adding a nave with collaterals, a five-part choir, and side chapels. The tower, built in 1542 on the south side, symbolizes this period of architectural prosperity.

The elements protected since 1910 include the nave, chapels and gate of the Counts of Perche, testifying to the heritage importance of the site. The carved vantals of the northern gate and the stained glass windows illustrate the exceptional craft of the period. Although the current bell tower is a partial reconstruction, it perpetuates the civil and religious function of the building, rooted in local history for more than five centuries.

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