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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint-Pierre de Réveillon church, located in La Ferté-Vidame (Eure-et-Loir), is a religious building whose current structure dates mainly from the 16th century, although it incorporates older elements of the 15th century. Its modest architecture is characterized by a three-sided bedside and a square bell tower overlooking the nave. The flamboyant style of window piercings indicate late changes in its construction.

The church's murals, rediscovered in 1975 after being covered with lime, are his most remarkable element. Made after the last modifications of the windows, they use a palette dominated by yellow, ochre, brown and red. The lower register presents an archature containing representations of saints, while the upper register illustrates great narrative scenes, including the Dit of the three dead and the three alive – a medieval allegory reminiscent of the vanity of earthly pleasures and the importance of the salvation of the soul. Another unidentified scene brings together about fifteen characters, offering an overview of devotions and artistic themes of the late Middle Ages.

Classified as historical monuments in 1978 for its murals, the church (excluding classified parts) is simultaneously included in the additional inventory. These protections underline the heritage value of its decorations, rare witnesses to religious piety and iconography of the 15th and 16th centuries in the region Centre-Val de Loire. The site also houses the burial of Michel Jobert (1921–2002), a politician and writer, whose presence strengthens the link between this place and modern history.

The commune of La Ferté-Vidame, integrated into the Perche Regional Natural Park, has an architectural heritage marked by its feudal past, as evidenced by the nearby castle classified in 1976. St Peter's church, although more discreet, is part of this historic landscape, where medieval heritage and local memory blend from its absorption by La Ferté-Vidame in 1844 to its heritage recognition in the 20th century.

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