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Origin and history

The church of St.Georges in Larzicourt, located in the Marne, is a Romanesque religious building built in the 12th century. Dedicated to Saint George, she was distinguished by her three-vessel plan and polygonal choir. Its history is marked by multiple influences: attached as early as 991 to the abbey of Der (diocese of Troyes), it then became a parish of the diocese of Châlons while dependent on the priory of Saint-Léon-de-Toul in Lorraine. This duality explains its hybrid architecture, combining primitive novels and flamboyant Gothic additions.

The initial construction was attributed to Hugues de Champagne, founder of the priory, and the church was consecrated in 1114 by Guillaume de Champeaux, bishop of Châlons. Over the centuries, it suffered several devastating fires: in 1358 during the Jacquerie, in 1554 during the invasion of Charles Quint, and in 1562 during the Wars of Religion. These destructions led to partial reconstructions, such as the addition of lateral chapels after 1358 or the expansion of 1562. The unique double transept was erected in 1590 by Gabrielle d'Estrées, Duchess of Montmorency-Montfort, inspired by the nearby church of Villeret.

Between the 17th and 20th centuries, the church was regularly restored: roofing and bell towering in 1768, redeveloped in 1829 to accommodate three bells, slates of Fumay in 1877, and electrification of the bells in 1955. Classified as a historical monument since 1989, it preserves its wooden porch-gallery and composite architecture, witness to the political and religious upheavals of the neighbouring Champagne and Lorraine. Its history also reflects the links between the Dukes of Montmorency, the crown of France and local conflicts, such as the massacre of Wassy in 1562.

The building illustrates the cultural exchanges between Champagne and Lorraine, visible in its successive ecclesiastical outbuildings and its architectural style. Modern repairs, since 1963, preserve its integrity without altering its original structure. Today, Saint George's Church remains an emblematic heritage of Larzicourt, mixing medieval memory and Renaissance heritage.

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