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Église Saint-Éloi d'Aunay-sous-Auneau dans l'Eure-et-Loir

Patrimoine classé
Patrimoine religieux
Eglise gothique
Eure-et-Loir

Église Saint-Éloi d'Aunay-sous-Auneau

    Rue de l'Église
    28700 Aunay-sous-Auneau
Église Saint-Éloi dAunay-sous-Auneau
Église Saint-Éloi dAunay-sous-Auneau
Église Saint-Éloi dAunay-sous-Auneau
Église Saint-Éloi dAunay-sous-Auneau
Église Saint-Éloi dAunay-sous-Auneau
Église Saint-Éloi dAunay-sous-Auneau
Église Saint-Éloi dAunay-sous-Auneau
Église Saint-Éloi dAunay-sous-Auneau
Église Saint-Éloi dAunay-sous-Auneau
Église Saint-Éloi dAunay-sous-Auneau
Église Saint-Éloi dAunay-sous-Auneau
Église Saint-Éloi dAunay-sous-Auneau
Église Saint-Éloi dAunay-sous-Auneau
Église Saint-Éloi dAunay-sous-Auneau
Crédit photo : François GOGLINS - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

Moyen Âge central
Bas Moyen Âge
Renaissance
Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
XIIe siècle
Construction of octagonal bell tower
XIIIe siècle
Expansion of the nave
XVe siècle
Addition of the north side
XIXe siècle
Post-revolutionary restoration
1897
Installation of polyphone organ
10 décembre 1909
Historical monument classification
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

Church: Order of 10 February 1909

Key figures

Saint Éloi - Patron of the church and blacksmiths Cult related to the protection of livestock.
Diacre Clément - Character buried in the church Fallstone ranked (late XIII-early XIVth).
Thibaud d'Aunay - Local priest Probable tombstone (died 1317).
Louis Debierre - Nantes organ factor Polyphone organ builder (1897).

Origin and history

Église Saint-Éloi d'Aunay-sous-Auneau, located in the Eure-et-Loir department in the Centre-Val de Loire region, is a Catholic building built from the twelfth to the sixteenth century. Classified as a historical monument since 10 December 1909, it is dedicated to Saint Eloi, patron saint of the blacksmiths, and was built in several stages, reflecting the architectural evolutions and the income generated by the pilgrimage to this saint, invoked for the protection of cattle and horses. Its 12th century octagonal bell tower, richly decorated and visible to several leagues, rests on a rectangular Romanesque base, while the abside preserves a 12th century altar stone, rediscovered in the 19th century.

In the 13th century, the church grew thanks to the revenues of the pilgrimage, with the addition of a main nave vaulted stone, a singularity in the area where churches were often covered with wooden panelling. This development bears witness to the richness of the parish. The nave, higher than the choir, is composed of three spans, and its stone vault distinguishes it from other local buildings. The cult of Saint Eloi, combined with a miraculous well for horses, probably played a key role in this expansion.

In the 15th century, the church was again enlarged, with the addition of a north side bottom in the flamboyant Gothic style, recognizable by its windows and arch keys decorated with pendants. A north chapel is raised, illuminated by two large windows, and a turret is built to house a staircase leading to the attic and bell tower. These changes reflect a period of peace and prosperity. In the 19th century, restorations were undertaken to repair revolutionary destructions, and medieval elements, such as tombstones and a primitive altar, were preserved or rediscovered.

The interior furniture of the church includes remarkable elements, such as a medieval swimming pool with double evacuation hole, two tombstones (including that of deacon Clement, classified as a historical monument), an 18th century altarpiece representing Saint Eloi, and 17th century stalls. A wooden statue of Saint Éloi (XVIIIe) and a 19th century polyphone organ, built by Louis Debierre, complete this ensemble. The organ, installed in 1897, is notable for its solid oak chest and its "polyphone" system, allowing to use a single pipe for several notes.

The building, owned by the commune, is a major architectural and historical testimony of the region. Its bell tower, its vaulted nave, and its classified furniture make it a rich place of heritage, linked to both the local devotion and the artisanal and agricultural history of the Beauce. Available sources from Wikipedia and Monumentum highlight its importance in the religious and monumental landscape of Eure-et-Loir.

External links