Construction of the choir and transept XIIe siècle (4e quart) (≈ 1250)
Romanesque origins of the building
XIIIe siècle (1er quart)
Edification of the nave
Edification of the nave XIIIe siècle (1er quart) (≈ 1350)
Gothic Style Plantagenet
1546
East Chapel Construction
East Chapel Construction 1546 (≈ 1546)
Church expansion
1650
Reconstruction of the west façade
Reconstruction of the west façade 1650 (≈ 1650)
Classic style by René Violette
1674
Partial collapse of the façade
Partial collapse of the façade 1674 (≈ 1674)
Due to a settlement of foundations
1805
Installation of the current organ
Installation of the current organ 1805 (≈ 1805)
From the Cordeliers de Saumur
1862
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 1862 (≈ 1862)
National Heritage Protection
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Walls of the nave and former choir located to the east including the vaulted span preceding it; 18th century sacristy (Box AP 113): inscription by decree of 20 September 1968
Key figures
Sainte Jeanne Delanoue - Religious and holy canonized
Baptized in this church in 1666
René Violette - 17th century architect
Reconstructed the façade in 1650
Jean-Paul II - Pope Canonized Jeanne Delanoue
Canonization in 1982
Origin and history
The church of Saint-Pierre-du-Marais, located in Saumur in the department of Maine-et-Loire, is a Catholic building built between the 12th and 18th centuries. Behind a classic 17th century façade, it reveals an architecture combining Romanesque art and the Gothic style Plantagenet, with strongly curved vaults. Its furniture includes 15th century stalls and a Baptistery linked to Saint Jeanne Delanoue, canonized in 1982.
In 1674, the façade and part of the massif collapsed due to a settlement of the foundations, leading to a reconstruction in the style of the Counter-Reform. The current organ, installed in 1805, comes from the Church of the Cordeliers of Saumur and has 37 games spread over three keyboards. The building, classified as a historical monument in 1862, preserves chapels dating from the 14th to the 16th century, including one built in 1546.
Architectural elements reflect distinct periods: the choir and transept date back to the last quarter of the 12th century, while the nave dates back to the early 13th century. Lateral chapels, added between the 14th and 16th centuries, illustrate the evolution of styles. The west facade, rebuilt in 1650 by architect René Violette, marks a transition to classical aesthetics.
The church plays a spiritual and cultural role, especially through regular organ concerts. It is also linked to local history by its Baptistery, used for Saint Jeanne Delanoue, founder of the Congregation of the Servants of the Poor. Its early ranking in 1862 underlined its heritage importance.
