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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Martin de Mareuil-sur-Ourcq, located in the Oise department in the Hauts-de-France region, is a Gothic building built during the first half of the thirteenth century. It consists of a nave with a low side, an overflowing transept extended by chapels, and a square choir with a flat bedside. Although its architecture is still inspired by late Romanesque tradition, notably by its proportions and the absence of reamped windows, it also reflects Gothic influences in its sculpture and modeling. The church was listed as a historic monument in 1922 and remains in excellent condition today.

The church was erected in three close-up construction campaigns. The first concerned the choir, the transept and the lateral chapels, while the second concerned the fourth span of the nave and the lower side. Finally, the third campaign completed the first three spans and the facade. The building underwent few subsequent modifications, with the exception of the neo-classical portal rebuilt in 1773 and the repair of the bell tower arrow after the sixteenth century.

Under the Ancien Régime, the parish of Mareuil-sur-Ourcq came under the Diocese of Meaux and was named after Saint Martin. After the Revolution, it was incorporated into the diocese of Beauvais. Today, the church belongs to the parish of Saint Jeanne d'Arc du Multien and hosts Sunday Masses twice a month. Its furniture, although not classified, includes remarkable baroque woodwork adorning the choir.

The architecture of the church is characterized by a slender nave, from the lower sides to different proportions, and a transept to the crucifixes illuminated by lancettes. The flat bedside is pierced by a triplet of lancettes topped by an oculus. Outside, the western facade retains Gothic foothills and a neo-classical portal topped by a rosette. The bell tower, with a frame arrow, dominates the valley of Ourcq.

Saint Martin Church is a rare example of a medieval building that has preserved its architectural integrity. Its plan and elevations are inspired by the Romanesque basilicas of the Aisne Valley, while integrating early Gothic elements. The sobriety of its side chapels and the fineness of its supports contrast with the thickness of its walls, typical of the transition between Romanesque and Gothic styles.

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