Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of St.Martin of Vrécourt, mentioned in 1105 under the name Vrehericurtis by Pope Pascal II, finds its origins in a first modest sanctuary, probably a chapel. This original place of worship was replaced in the 12th century by a more imposing church, whose Romanesque bell tower remains today as a major vestige. This bell tower, partially burned during the siege of La Mothe in 1634 (the traces are still visible), was classified as a historical monument in 1995 for its architectural importance and its remarkable state of conservation.

The reconstruction of the church, undertaken between 1737 and 1749, marked a major transformation of the building, adopting a baroque style of the eighteenth century. Internal changes were made in the 19th century, without profoundly altering the structure. The whole (excluding bell tower) was included in the additional inventory of historical monuments in 1994. In 2009, the association Vrécourt Culture Patrimoine launched a restoration campaign to preserve this heritage, stressing its central role in the religious and community life of the village.

The church furniture includes a reliquary statuette of St Martin in silver and gold copper, a precious liturgical object. The bell tower, with its rhenish Romanesque characteristics (Lombard archatures, geminate berries), illustrates the cultural exchanges of the Lorrain region in the Middle Ages. The building, owned by the commune, remains a witness to architectural developments and historical upheavals (wars, reconstructions) that marked Vrécourt and the Vosges.

The available sources (Wikipedia, Merimée base, Monumentum) confirm its status as a protected monument, with a precise location at the address 1 Municipal Way of the Castle, 88140 Vrécourt. Its Insee code (88524) and its attachment to the diocese of Epinal anchor the church in the religious and administrative heritage of the Great East.

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