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Origin and history

Saint-Germain d'Auvillars Church, located in the Calvados department in Normandy, is a Catholic building built mainly in the twelfth century. It is isolated in the centre of the communal territory, about 1 km from the village of Bonnebosq. The church belongs to the tertiary Romanesque style, although parts of the nave date back to the 16th century. Its choir, entirely from the 12th century, is lit by narrow windows to the full, while the nave features a fern leaf apparatus and a door adorned with stunning heads of fantastic animals.

The church has undergone changes over the centuries, including the addition of a chapel in the 16th century and a western Renaissance portal in 1538. This portal, supported by prominent foothills, is surmounted by a square tower in frame. Inside, the nave is accompanied by a north side bottom, separated by ogival arches and at full speed. The choir, finished with a straight bedside, preserves remains of medieval stained glass, including a crowned Virgin's head and religious characters.

The church was registered as historical monuments by order of 17 July 1926. It contains remarkable elements such as a 15th century tombstone, discovered in 1853, representing an ancient chasuble priest, as well as two bells before the Revolution, originating from Saint-Germain de Lisieux. The surrounding cemetery preserves the remains of a 17th century nestled cross and a century-old if. The building thus reflects a rich history, mixing medieval architecture, Renaissance additions and traces of local religious life.

The parish of the church was divided into two portions gathered around 1708, with two priests appointed by the Lord. In the 14th century, the foal of Lisieux mentions dominus Robertus de Tournebu as presenter. The stained glass windows of the choir bear the inscription "De tournebu cure", recalling this historical link. The chapel of the Virgin, built around 1600 by the Dauvet d'Auvillars family, and the retable Louis XV of the high altar testify to the later beautifications.

Arcisse de Caumont, in his monumental Statistique du Calvados (1862), highlights the architectural interest of the building, notably for its Romanesque choir, flat foothills and triumphal arch decorated with zigzags. The nave, elongated by a span in the 16th century, and the northern wall, flanked by prominent foothills, illustrate stylistic evolutions. The remains of a funeral liter and the modifications of the windows over the centuries complete this historical picture.

In 1853, excavations during the repavation of the sanctuary revealed a 15th century carved tombstone, representing a priest with a dog at his feet, as well as an ancient sword discovered at 2.50 metres deep. These elements, combined with the pre-revolutionary bells and the cemetery cross, enrich the understanding of the material and spiritual heritage linked to this church, still owned by the municipality of Auvillars.

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