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Origin and history

Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine d'Azay-sur-Cher is a Catholic parish church located in the Indre-et-Loire department, in the Centre-Val de Loire region. Founded in the 3rd quarter of the 15th century, it underwent profound transformations until the 19th century. Its bell tower, dating from the 15th century, houses a seigneurial chapel vaulted in a cross of warheads and remains the oldest part of the building. The nave, rebuilt in 1790, was enlarged in 1856-1857 by diocesan architect Gustave Guérin, giving the church its present appearance.

The interior decor, in a neo-Gothic style, was entirely redone between 1856 and 1880 by the parish priest of Azay-sur-Cher, Abbé Guillot, who himself carved the elements. The stained glass windows, designed by master glassmaker Lucien-Léopold Lobin in the second half of the 19th century, complete this decoration. The bell tower, the most remarkable architectural element with its octagonal stone arrow, was inscribed as a historical monument by order of 6 March 1947. The bell Marie-Magdeleine, melted in 1736, is classified among monumental objects.

The building is located in the centre of the village of Azay-sur-Cher, between the Cher and the departmental road D 976. Its nave opens to the northwest, while the choir, finished with a semicircular apse, points southeast. The bell tower, located south of the choir, is accompanied by a sacristy to the north. These adjustments reflect the architectural and liturgical changes of the church, marked by centuries of modifications and adaptations to the needs of the parish.

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