Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church Saint-Lazare de Lèves, located in the Eure-et-Loir department in the Centre-Val de Loire region, was built between 1952 and 1957. It replaces a 16th century church destroyed during the fighting on August 16, 1944. This monument, designed by architect Jean Rédreau, partially reuses the ruins of the old church, thus integrating historical elements into a modern structure.

The western façade of the church is decorated with sculptures by Jean Lambert-Rucki, representing in particular La Cène and scenes of the Passion of Christ. Inside, an entire wall consists of glass slabs created by Gabriel Loire, a local artist specialized in this technique. These stained glass windows tell the history of the village of Léves, from the Norman invasion of 911 until its destruction in 1944, offering a unique artistic and historical testimony.

Saint-Lazare Church has been listed as a historic monument since 15 October 2002 for its facades and roofs. It is part of the parish of Saint Gilduin, attached to the dean of Chartres. This place of worship is distinguished by its careful decor, mixing contemporary sacred art and memory of the tragic events of the Second World War.

Gabriel Loire's workshop, located in the commune of Lèves, helped to make this church a rare example in the region Centre of glass slab technique. This artistic and architectural heritage reflects both the resilience of the local community and the innovation of 20th century artists.

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