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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Laurent church of Villiers-le-Sec, located in Calvados in Normandy, is a 12th and 13th century religious building, partially classified as historical monuments since 1913. Its bell tower and choir, of first Gothic style, date from the second half of the 12th century, while the nave was rebuilt in the 18th century. The monument is dedicated to Saint Laurent and secondary to Saint Georges, and its architecture reflects successive changes, including a stone roof added to the bell tower between the 16th and 17th centuries.

The bell tower and choir were classified as historical monuments on 22 October 1913. Restoration work on the bell tower, financed in part by the Heritage Lotto 2020, was carried out between 2021 and 2024, with an inauguration at the Heritage Days in September 2024. The three bells were restored in Innsbruck, Austria. The church also houses protected furniture elements, such as the neoclassical high altar of 1791, a altarpiece representing the agony of Christ, and two secondary altars dedicated to the Virgin and Saint Laurent.

The building, initially under the patronage of the Abbey of Fécamp before the Revolution, underwent several architectural changes. In the 15th century, changes were made to the choir bays and the south gate. Around 1760, the nave, the coasts and the sacristy were rebuilt thanks to the funding of Olivier d'Amours, local lord. In 1865, a new main gate was added, as well as false arches of warheads in the nave and the lower side. The characteristic bell tower features an eight-quarter arch of warheads and a screw staircase integrated into a slightly protruding turret.

The church retains remarkable architectural elements, such as an inner courtyard connecting the staircase to the top of the choir, and a traffic platform at the base of the bell tower. The materials used include the cut stone for the bell tower and the choir, and the coated bell for the nave and sacristy. The cover varies between flat tiles for the nave and slates for the choir, while the sides are covered in appentis.

Among the movable objects inscribed, there are, in addition to the high altar, two secondary altarpieces of the eighteenth century, as well as two medallion paintings depicting Saint Laurent and Saint Georges, patrons of the church. These medallions were probably installed on both sides of the original high altar. The ensemble reflects a rich liturgical and artistic history, marked by continuous additions and restorations to the contemporary era.

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