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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Étienne de Chinon is a Catholic parish church built in the 15th century, between 1460 and 1490, under the impetus of architect Pierre Mesnager (or Robert Mesnager according to the sources). It replaces an 11th century Romanesque building, only the base of which remains. The reconstruction, begun during the reign of Charles VII, ended around 1477. The facade, typical of the Gothic Angelvin, has a double door in basket handle surmounted by accolades and florons, framing a niche. The choir, facing east, ends with a pentagonal apse with flamboyant windows.

The stained glass windows, made in the 19th century by Lucien-Leopold Lobin's studio, adorn a unique seven-span vessel, characteristic of the local Gothic style. The church was listed as a historic monument on June 18, 1962. Until 1975, its north wall supported a private house, called the house of the Pilier Saint-Étienne, due to a carved pillar representing the stoning of the patron saint. Today it is part of the parish churches of Chinon, attached to the Saint-Martin community since 2000.

Inside, a fresco found during works at the nearby Saint-Mexme collegiate is exhibited, as well as a statue of Jeanne d'Arc, the work of sculptor François Sicard. The church is located in the immediate vicinity of the medieval village, less than 150 meters from the college, along the old east-west main road of the city. Its architecture reflects the Angelian influences, with lateral chapels separated by arcades in third-point.

The building is owned by the town of Chinon and remains open for the visit. Its inscription in the title of historical monuments underlines its heritage importance, both for its history linked to post-medieval reconstruction and for its preserved architectural elements, such as the Romanesque bell tower and the flamboyant networks of the choir.

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