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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur de Courcelles-le-Roi, located in the Loiret, has its origins in the late twelfth century. Dedicated to Saint Jacques-le-Majeur, Saint Anne and Saint Apolline, it could indicate a link with a secondary route of pilgrimages to Compostela. Initially under the dependence of the abbey of Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire, it was also linked to the monks of the Court-Dieu as early as 1123 for the right of tithes. Its history reflects a complex evolution, marked by enlargements and untapped projects.

In 1406 Blanchet de Bracque, seigneur of Courcelles, undertook a large expansion project aimed at transforming the church into a monumental five-nave building, including a polygonal choir to walk. This project was interrupted after its capture at the Battle of Azincourt (1415), leaving the choir unfinished. Despite this, work was carried out in the 16th century, including the addition of a low side and the resumption of the nave, with an official inauguration by the Archbishop of Sens in 1656. The chapel Saint-Hubert, attested as early as 1271 but rebuilt in the seventeenth century, illustrates this historical stratification.

In the 19th century, the church underwent major restorations, including the vaulting of the first three spans of the brick and plaster nave (1891), as well as the resumption of paving and bays. Ranked at the Historic Monuments in 1991, it retains remarkable 17th-century furniture, such as baptismal fonts and a bentier of Louis XIV style. The choir organ, originally from the chapel of the Jeanne de France Institute in Pithiviers, adds a local heritage touch.

Today the church presents an unusual plan, mixing a medieval nave, an unfinished choir and a side chapel. Its history reflects the political and religious hazards of the region, from its role in the diocese of Sens to its inscription as a protected monument. The local pilgrimages dedicated to Saint Hubert and Saint Apolline, still attested to in the 19th century, underline its cultural and spiritual importance.

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