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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Martin de Tournes church, located in the Ardennes department (Great East), is a remarkable example of a fortified church in Thiérache, built between the 15th and 16th centuries. It is distinguished by its fortified tower, prior to the current building, dating from the 12th century. This tower, initially defensive, was integrated as a bell tower and presents a round base surmounted by a high square part, added in the sixteenth century. The church itself was built or rebuilt between 1545 and 1567, as evidenced by the date engraved above the door of the chapel of the trepassés.

The tower, equipped with gunboats and braces, served as both a watchtower and a refuge. It was restored for the first time in 1659, after the peace of the Pyrenees. Inside, the church houses notable elements such as a 17th century funeral slab, dedicated to Regnauld d'Argy and his wife Françoise d'Escanvevevelle, as well as 16th century baptismal fonts in Meuse stone, decorated with carved heads and symbolic motifs. A 15th century wooden Christ and 17th and 16th century statues complete this rich furniture heritage.

The Church of Saint Martin has been a historic monument since 1923, recognizing its architectural and historical importance. It illustrates the defensive role of churches in Thierache, a region marked by border conflicts, while preserving traces of the religious and community life of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The parish was linked to the abbey of Notre-Dame de Sept-Fontaines, highlighting its anchoring in the local monastic network.

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