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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Saint-André de Saint-André-sur-Orne is a Catholic church in the Calvados department of Normandy. Dating from the 13th century, it is an example of medieval religious architecture. The commune, formerly called Saint-André-de-Fontenay until 1911, houses this monument, whose choir, registered since 1937, has notable architectural features, such as foothills and modeled or geometrical models.

The building has undergone several modifications over the centuries. The windows were enlarged, except one, and an outside door giving access to the choir was blocked. The nave, enhanced, raises questions as to its exact dating, between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. In the 19th century, a sacristy was added to the bedside, and a panel was installed in the choir, while a new pavement floor was laid.

The choir, rectangular in shape, is described by Arcisse de Caumont as a work of the "transitional era", with a vault with "alternative swellings and depressions", evoking a foreign architectural influence. The nave, less well preserved, lost its original vaults. A square tower, with a roof in a building, completes the whole. 18th-century tombstones and a stone pulpit are also reported.

The church has been partially classified as historical monuments since 16 September 1937, specifically concerning its 13th century choir. The Saint-Étienne Abbey of Fontenay, linked to the history of the parish, and the observations of Arcisse de Caumont, a local historian, are the main documentary sources on this monument.

The building reflects the architectural and religious evolution of the region, marked by successive transformations. Its partial inscription in historical monuments underscores the heritage importance of its choir, witness to the medieval period and the varied artistic influences.

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