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Saint Peter's Church of Coutances dans la Manche

Patrimoine classé
Patrimoine religieux
Architecture gothique flamboyant
Manche

Saint Peter's Church of Coutances

    1-17 Rue Saint-Pierre
    50200 Coutances
Église Saint-Pierre de Coutances
Église Saint-Pierre de Coutances
Église Saint-Pierre de Coutances
Église Saint-Pierre de Coutances
Église Saint-Pierre de Coutances
Église Saint-Pierre de Coutances
Église Saint-Pierre de Coutances
Église Saint-Pierre de Coutances
Église Saint-Pierre de Coutances
Église Saint-Pierre de Coutances
Église Saint-Pierre de Coutances
Église Saint-Pierre de Coutances
Église Saint-Pierre de Coutances
Église Saint-Pierre de Coutances
Église Saint-Pierre de Coutances
Église Saint-Pierre de Coutances
Église Saint-Pierre de Coutances
Église Saint-Pierre de Coutances
Crédit photo : Selbymay - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

Moyen Âge central
Bas Moyen Âge
Renaissance
Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1100
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
1056
First mention by Guillaume le Bâtard
1494
Reconstruction of the church
1550-1581
Construction of the tower
1789-1799
Use as hay barn
4 janvier 1901
Historical monument classification
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

Saint Peter's Church: by decree of 4 January 1901

Key figures

Guillaume le Bâtard - Duke of Normandy Cited the church in a charter in 1056.
Geoffroy Herbert - Bishop of Coutances Initiator of reconstruction in 1494.
Richard Vatin - Master mason Directed the construction of the tower-lantern.
Guillaume Le Roussel - Master mason Collaborated at the tower-lantern (1550-1581).
Nicolas Saurel - Master mason Worked in the choir in the 16th century.
Aubin Bouillon - Priest Epitaph dated 1552 in the church.

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Pierre de Coutances, mentioned in 1056 in a charter of Guillaume le Bâtard, is a religious building marked by a turbulent history. Ruined during the Hundred Years' War, it was rebuilt from 1494 under the impulse of Bishop Geoffroy Herbert, as evidenced by a wall inscription. The present, flamboyant Gothic building incorporates 13th century remains, such as capitals and archatures in third-point, visible at the base of the bell tower and in the nave.

The octagonal tower, inspired by the cathedral of Coutances, was erected between 1550 and 1581 thanks to papal gifts and indulgences. Master masons Richard Vatin and Guillaume Le Roussel led the construction, while Nicolas Saurel worked in the choir in the 16th century. During the Revolution, the church served as a hay barn, before being classified as a historic monument in 1901. Its Renaissance portal and nine epitaphs of the 15th and 16th centuries, including those of Guillaume Broc and Aubain Bouillon, enrich its heritage.

Inside, sober, preserves votive inscriptions and hybrid architectural elements, mixing Gothic and Renaissance. Among its remarkable furniture is a statue of the Education of the 15th century Virgin. The church thus illustrates the stylistic transitions and historical recompositions of Normandy, between the Middle Ages and the modern era. Its ranking in 1901 underscores its heritage importance, both for its architecture and its role in local memory.

External links