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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Médard-et-Saint-Gildard de Lhuys, located in the department of Aisne in the Hauts-de-France region, is a religious building dating back to the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries. The oldest remains, dated the eleventh century, are found in the northern parts of the nave. Major reconstruction began in the 12th century with the nave and its sides, followed by the addition of an oblong choir replacing a primitive semicircular apse. The transept, characterized by arches of warheads and stone altar niches, was gradually completed between the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries. The choir's capitals have a sculpted decoration similar to that of the church of Glennes, suggesting a common origin, perhaps a single workshop or craftsman.

In 1189, the bishop of Soissons, Nivelon I of Quierzy, offered the church to the chapter of Notre-Dame-des-Vignes Abbey, which became its collator and decimator under the Old Regime. Major restorations took place in the 19th century (1890 and 1912) before it was classified as a Historic Monument in 1913. Damaged during World War I in 1918, his cover was restored between 1928 and 1929 under the direction of architect Lucien Sallez. Today, the building combines elements of Romanesque (lambrissed nave) and Gothic (dogive vaults, transept), with a flat and slate tile cover.

The church is distinguished by its cross plan, with a nave accompanied by low-sides with various covers (lambris to the north, fake modern plaster vault to the south). The choir, with a flat bedside, and the vaulted transept illustrate the evolution of architectural techniques between the 12th and 13th centuries. Two altars dedicated to the Virgin (North Arm) and Saint Anthony (South Arm) are mentioned in the 19th century, reflecting local devotion. The monument, owned by the commune, bears witness to the religious and artistic history of Picardia, between medieval heritage and modern restorations.

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