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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Jean-Baptiste church of Omonville-la-Rogue is a Catholic building built in the second half of the 13th century, between 1250 and 1270, in the Gothic style. It is located in the town of Omonville-la-Rogue, now part of the new town of La Hague, in the department of the Manche. Unlike other churches in the region, it is located in the heart of the village, reflecting its local importance. Its bell tower, restored in the 18th century, is covered by a building made of slabs of sandstone, and its access is by side gates, one transformed into a Baptistery in 1667.

The church bears witness to the maritime history of the village, with graffiti of ships and ex-votos, as well as 13th century murals depicting the martyrdoms of Saint Helier and Saint Thomas Beckett. A northern chapel, added between 1662 and 1667 by Pierre de Sainte-Mère-Église, resulted from a legal conflict with Jacques de Surtainville over honorary rights. The sacristy, rebuilt in 1865, made it possible to clear the choir bays with stained glass.

Ranked a historic monument by decree of 9 June 1971, the church houses rich furniture, including a statue of Thomas Becket (XV century), a Renaissance throne from the Ravalet Castle, and 18th century baptismal fonts. Its architecture and decor illustrate both its religious role and its anchoring in the community and maritime life of the Hague.

The murals, although very dilapidated, are among the few medieval artistic testimonies of the region. The building, owned by the commune, also preserves elements such as 16th-century benitiers and a Virgin to the Child, highlighting its heritage and cultural importance in Normandy.

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