Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Saint-Fraimbault-et-Saint-Antoine d'Épineu-le-Chevreuil, in the Sarthe department, was founded around 1060 by Hoël, bishop of Le Mans. It then depended on the chapter of the Cathedral of Le Mans, which underlines its religious importance from the beginning. The building, in Romanesque style, was partially rebuilt in the 16th century under the impulse of Julien de Baif, canon of Mans and local lord, who added a seigneurial chapel and had the choir renovated.

In the 19th century, the church underwent major expansions, notably in 1843 thanks to the Duke of Tourzel de Sourches, who modified his original plan. The nave, initially simple, now adopts a Latin cross with a north transept added in 1843. Despite these transformations, Romanesque elements remain, such as the apparatus visible on the south elevation and an original bay. The choir, vaulted with complex warheads with liernes and thirdons, carries the arms of the Baif, testifying to their influence.

Classified as a historical monument in 1998, the church retains remarkable furniture from the 16th and 19th centuries, including classified statues (Saint-Fraimbault and Saint-Antoine), a stained glass window of the seigneurial chapel, and a golden copper funeral plaque of Julien de Baif. These elements, combined with the sophisticated vault of the choir, illustrate the artistic and historical richness of the site, despite subsequent changes to its original novel character.

The building remains the property of the municipality and houses architectural and decorative traces of the different periods, reflecting its evolution since the Middle Ages. Its listing in the inventory of historical monuments today protects its heritage, while allowing its visit and study.

External links