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Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Germain de Préaux-du-Perche finds its origins at the end of the 12th century, although its present structure is mainly the result of subsequent reconstructions. It was primitive in its original course and was largely destroyed during the British invasion, a violent episode that marked the region for a long time. The parts spared by the ruins were redesigned, while the additions of the 15th century – such as the side chapels and the flamboyant snout windows – gave it its hybrid appearance, between Romanesque austerity and late Gothic elegance.

The plan of the building forms a rectangle finished with a straight bedside, an architectural characteristic frequent in Norman rural churches. The nave, framed to the north and south by two chapels in the shape of a crusillon, illustrates the adaptation of liturgical spaces to local needs. The seigneurial chapel of the Counts of Amilly, located in the south, extends these chapels and bears witness to the link between the monument and the regional aristocracy. To the north, the tower of the bell tower, dated from the end of the 12th century, retains Romanesque features (thick walls, narrow bays), contrasting with the later additions.

The church was inscribed in the Historical Monuments by decree of 20 August 1974, recognizing its heritage value despite the changes suffered. The accuracy of its location remains poor (note 5/10), perhaps reflecting the documentary gaps in its early history. Today owned by the commune, it embodies both a religious heritage and a marker of the conflicts that have crossed the Perche, between Normandy and the royal domain.

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