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Origin and history

The church Saint-Saulve de Montreuil-sur-Mer is a former abbey built in the 11th century. Originally, it consisted of a bell tower framed by two towers, a nave to collaterals, a transept flanked by four chapels and a choir to walk. Two other towers overcame the eastern slopes of the transept. The building was profoundly transformed after the fires of 1467 and 1537, which caused the collapse of the vaults and altered its plan. Today, only the bell tower, the base of the left turret, the nave, its lower side and the chapel Notre-Dame, added in the 15th century, remain.

The reconstructions of the 13th and 16th centuries marked the history of the church. After the fire of 1537, the nave was reduced to eight spans, three of which now occupy the choir. The north side, spared, contrasts with the southern collateral, rebuilt between 1596 and 1631 under Abbé Godefroy de La Rue, as evidenced by the weapons engraved on a key vault. The last two spans of this collateral were raised in 1819 and vaulted in 1869. The present elevation, limited to two levels (large arcades and triforium), dates mostly from the 15th century, with the exception of a 13th century span north side.

The church houses a remarkable ecclesiastical treasure, mainly from the abbey of Sainte-Austreberthe, which was destroyed in 1793. Among the oldest pieces is the pastoral lacrosse of Saint Austreberthe, made of 7th century wood enhanced by 12th century ornaments. Medieval reliquaries in enamel or gold silver, as well as 17th century works, illustrate the past richness of Benedictine Abbey. These elements, visible during guided tours, underline the historical and religious importance of the site.

Ranked a historic monument in 1910, the Saint-Saulve church bears witness to the architectural upheavals and vicissitudes suffered over the centuries. The remains of the choir and the radiant chapels, visible from the back of the town hall, recall its original plan, while the absence of high windows and the vaults lowered by five meters in the sixteenth century give it a sober and collected atmosphere. The building remains a major example of religious art in northern France, mixing Romanesque and Gothic heritage.

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