Church of Saint Martin of Yvré-le-Pôlin dans la Sarthe

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Origin and history

The Saint-Martin church of Yvré-le-Pôlin, located in the Sarthe department in Pays de la Loire, is a Gothic Catholic religious building. Built at the end of the 14th century, it is distinguished by its wooden vault and its steep steeple. Some parts, such as the nave of the south side and the tower of the bell tower, date back to the 12th century, while the choir dates from the 13th century. The north side, for its part, was added in the mid-19th century during major restorations.

The rosace of the church, built in russard, a iron sandstone typical of the region, is classified as historical monuments. It houses a stained glass window entitled Charity according to Saint Martin, representing the saint sharing his coat with a beggar. Outside, a tombstone pays tribute to Father René Durand, parish priest of the village for 44 years until his death in 1655.

The church's history is marked by its bells, the oldest of which, named in 1716 as Charles, Louis, François, was renamed Martine in 1807. The big bell, named Marie, Jeanne, Christophe, was baptized in 1730. These ceremonies involved local figures such as Christophe de Corbin de Varennes and Marie Jeanne Philippe de Guitton d-Yvré. The last restoration of the building dates from 1986-1987, while the bell was last blessed in 1995.

The lateral chapels of the choir, added at the end of the eighteenth century, complete the architecture of the building. The church, located on rue du 8-Mai opposite the town hall, remains a symbol of the religious and historical heritage of the commune.

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