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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint-Martin church of Sucy-en-Brie, located in the Val-de-Marne, finds its first records written in the 9th century, although the present building results mainly from reconstructions in the 12th and 13th centuries. The choir, transept and bell tower – the last peak at 28 meters and dating from the 4th quarter of the 12th century – bear witness to this medieval period. These elements, among the oldest, were listed as historical monuments by order of 27 March 1926, highlighting their heritage value.

The nave, on the other hand, was panelled in 1632, while major changes took place in the seventeenth century, including the modification of the pavement, the suppression of the side doors, and the construction of a new sacristy in 1776. The old sacristy was demolished in 1807, and subsequent restorations, such as that of the façade in 1982, made it possible to find obstructed side doors. The stained glass windows, offered between 1870 and 1895, now adorn the choir and the naves, illustrating religious scenes linked to Saint Martin, patron saint of the church.

The interior is distinguished by a three-vessel nave opening onto a straight vaulted Gothic dogives choir, typical of the thirteenth century. Outside, massive foothills structure the walls, while the west facade, rebuilt in the 17th century, partially masks the traces of earlier eras. The designated cemetery was transferred in 1838, marking an evolution in the use of space around the building.

The stained glass windows, made by the workshop of the Haussaire brothers, represent significant episodes of Christianity, such as the legend of Saint Martin, the Adoration of the Shepherds or the Ascension of Mary. Their presence reflects local gifts and devotion in the 19th and 20th centuries, when the church continued to evolve while maintaining its historical character.

Today, the Church of Saint Martin remains an active place of worship and an architectural testimony of successive transformations, from the Middle Ages to the modern era, in the religious and social landscape of Sucy-en-Brie and Val-de-Marne.

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