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Origin and history

The Sainte-Marie-Madeleine church of Montchauvet, located in the Yvelines, has its origins in the 12th century. A first church dedicated to Saint Fiacre was erected in 1137, followed by the construction of the choir and nave in the 12th and 13th centuries. The Romanesque portal, later added, bears witness to this medieval period. The building was then dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene after the partial destruction of the initial church.

In 1909, a hurricane severely damaged the primitive bell tower, already weakened. The mayor of Montchauvet, with the avalanche of the sub-prefect of Mantes, decided to have him dynamit on 25 May 1910, causing the collapse of the vault of the nave. This act, called "vandalism" by novelist Jean Richepin, sparked controversy. The latter financed the reconstruction of the bell tower and tower in 1912, although the nave continued to deteriorate thereafter. Today, only the lateral walls of the nave remain, and worship is celebrated in the transept and the choir.

The Romanesque-style northern portal was added to the Supplementary Inventory of Historic Monuments on 3 June 1932. Contemporary stained glass, a work by Jacques Loire, adds a modern artistic touch to this historic building. The church, owned by the commune, also preserves 13th century baptismal fonts, classified for their decoration in bas-relief.

The initial construction of the church is part of the new city created by Louis VI and the Count of Montfort in the 12th century. Its bell tower, rebuilt in the early 20th century after the 1910 explosion, illustrates the challenges of preserving heritage in the face of natural hazards and human decisions.

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