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Origin and history

The Saint-Martin church of Ivry-la-Battle, built in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, was initiated by Diane de Poitiers who laid his foundations (chœur, bas-cotés, part of the nave). The work, unfinished, preserves original sculptures at the bedside. The building suffered major damage: lightning destroyed arrows and vaults in 1664, a hurricane ravaged the roof in 1688, and the bell tower was consolidated in the 19th century after a landslide.

During the Revolution (1793-1794), the church became a Temple of Reason and Philosophy, as evidenced by the inscription engraved on its bedside, surmounted by the republican motto. In the 19th century, Jacques-Désiré Laval, doctor and priest, organized Marian celebrations there before leaving to evangelize Mauritius in 1841. A bell of 1538, sounding for the victory of Henri IV in 1590, and stained glass windows commemorating Laval and local history are still visible.

The interior combines medieval elements (baptismal towers of the 14th century, statue of the Virgin of the 15th) and posterior additions (pillars of the 18th century, vault in cradle). A 15th century Italian statuette and a stained glass window offered by the Laval family, illustrating its mission in Mauritius, complete this heritage. The building, a communal property, has been listed as historical monuments since 1958.

The architecture reflects stylistic transitions: archatures in the middle of the hangar, windows with flamboyant shafts, and structures consolidated after centuries of vicissitude. The site embodies both Catholic worship, revolutionary upheavals, and local memory, especially through the figure of Laval, beatified for his missionary work.

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