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Origin and history

The Saint-Sauveur church of Bellême, located in the Orne in Normandy, is a Catholic building dating back to the 11th century with two outer chapels, Saint-Pierre and Saint-Sauveur. The bases of the present building date from the 15th century, but the church was almost entirely destroyed in 1562 and 1572 by Protestant troops of Admiral de Coligny during the Wars of Religion. It was then rebuilt at the end of the 16th century and rebuilt between 1678 and 1715, with a classical façade and a bell tower dated 1678.

In the 17th century, the architect Jean Palastre intervened in 1622, followed by Léonard Manguin, who designed several side chapels between 1658 and 1661. The sacristy and surrounding galleries were added in the 19th century. The interior, although incorporating ancient elements, was largely reshaped at that time. The church houses remarkable furniture, including a 1712 black marble master altar, 18th century woodwork, and 1684 baptismal fonts carved by Durand.

The building was partially protected as early as 1936 (clocher-porch), then in its entirety in 1987. It plays a central role in local religious life, welcoming Sunday Masses and parish celebrations. Its architecture combines classical and Gothic styles, with a nave flanked by eight side chapels and a five-sided choir. The tower, made of silicified limestone, is decorated with evangelist statues and a cast iron Christ.

Among the notable works are a painting by Jacques Oudry (1705) representing the Transfiguration of Christ, as well as the 20th century stained glass windows commemorating the First World War. The chapels house retables, copies of famous paintings, and funeral monuments, such as Louis Petitgars (1669). The church, the only remaining church in Bellême, now belongs to the parish of Saint-Léonard-des-Clairières.

Its history reflects the religious and political upheavals of the region, from the destruction of the Wars of Religion to its role during the Revolution (s solemn Mass for the General States in 1789). The interior decor, marked by 19th-century restorations, includes a ceiling painted in panelling and an overturned frame, typical of Norman churches.

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