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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Laurent church of Soulaines-Dhuys, located in the Aube department in the Grand Est region, is a religious building built mainly in the sixteenth century. It is characterized by a rectangular plan, a porch added until the 18th century, and a central arrow redone after being destroyed by lightning in 1975. Inside, it houses remarkable 16th century furniture, including wooden and limestone statues, as well as glass windows and paintings from the 17th and 19th centuries.

The church was initially placed under the double name of Jean-le-Baptiste and Laurent, and depended on the dean of Brienne. Rebuilt in the second half of the 16th century, it should have been larger according to historical sources. Its portal, dated 1568, and its tower, combining elements from the 16th and 18th centuries, bear witness to its architectural evolution. Classified as a historic monument in 1914, it embodies a preserved religious and artistic heritage.

Among the notable elements of his furniture are statues such as that of Saint Syre (with traces of badigeon), a Virgin with the Child made of polychrome wood, or Saint Anne and Saint John, also made of wood. The 16th century windows and greys, as well as paintings such as The Descent of the Cross or a 17th century Saint Laurent (formerly in a chapel), complete this ensemble. A painting by Saint Nicolas, painted by Georges in 1811, adds a more recent touch to this heritage.

The building, owned by the municipality, is located at 4 Rue de la Croix Badeau in Soulaines-Dhuys. Its arrow, destroyed by a fire caused by lightning on August 17, 1975, has since been restored. The church remains a major architectural and historical testimony of the region, reflecting both local religious traditions and stylistic evolutions throughout the centuries.

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