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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Clément de Saint-Clément-des-Levées, built between 1844 and 1848 by architect Charles Joly-Letherma, replaces a medieval chapel which has become insufficient. It was erected on a lift facing the Loire, with its two lantern towers surmounted by lanterns serving as beacons for the marinaters (called chalandoux in Anjou). The building, of sober style, reflects the adaptation of river churches to the navigation needs of the 19th century.

The history of the site dates back to at least the sixteenth century: a chapel dedicated to Saint Clement, founded by Étienne Girard (prieur de Trier), was completed before 1505. It became a parish church in 1696 after several enlargements (1610, 1723, 1747), and was finally destroyed in 1848 to give way to the present project. The new building, originally planned without buttress by Joly-Letherme, had to be strengthened in 1851 due to structural changes ordered by the Council for Civilian Buildings.

The church was inscribed in the Historical Monuments in 1991 for its architecture and its link to river heritage. Its slate roof, polygonal metal domes and its role in the life of the sailors make it a unique testimony to the history of the Ligerian. The work of covering the nave (brick and plaster) was rebuilt in 1854-1855, consolidating its structure.

Before the 19th century, the parish depended on Trier (left bank of the Loire). The population growth of this overseas enclave justified the creation of an independent church, symbolizing the religious and social autonomy of Saint Clement-des-Levées. The present building, a communal property, embodies this transition between maritime tradition and architectural modernity.

The sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum) highlight his dual heritage: religious, with his term dedicated to Saint Clement (pape martyr), and technical, as a landmark for the battleship. The initial plans of architect Binet (1837), rejected by the municipality, show the tensions between innovation and conservation in the urban projects of the time.

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