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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Saint-Aubin de Saint-Aubin-de-Crétot Church, located in the Seine-Maritime department in Normandy, is a Catholic building dating back to the 12th century. It preserves architectural elements of this period, including a capital adorned with winged characters, as well as a portal decorated with lions and heads of death. These sculptural details bear witness to late Romanesque art and medieval symbolic influences.

The nave and transept, rebuilt in the 16th century, illustrate a transition to the Renaissance style, with a wooden vault characteristic of this period. The history of the church is also marked by alleged fighting in 1592 between the supporters of the Catholic League and the soldiers of Henry IV, leaving visible traces of bullet impact on its walls. These events are part of the context of the religious wars that shook France.

In the 19th century, a sacristy was added in 1880, partially modernizing the building. The church also houses a 14th-15th century altarpiece decorated with scenes of the Passion of Christ, as well as two statues of saints (Barbe and Madeleine) in the nave. These furniture elements emphasize its role both spiritual and artistic in the local community. The church's inclusion in historic monuments in 1926 preserved this rich heritage, mixing medieval and Renaissance heritage.

Architecturally, the building stands out for its combined use of stone and flint, typical of Norman buildings. The wooden vault of the nave, the carved decorations and the ancient altarpiece make it an example of the rural churches of the region, reflecting the stylistic evolutions and historical upheavals experienced in Normandy between the Middle Ages and the modern era.

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