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Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame de Givet, located at the "Petit-Givet" on the right bank of the Meuse, finds its origins on the site of a medieval church founded in the late third or early fourth century. Its construction is traditionally attributed to Saint Hubert, bishop of Liège around 720. This first building, destroyed in 1696, was rebuilt between 1729 and 1732 in a classical style, with a reversal of its plan: the current choir corresponds to the old nave, and the bell tower now dominates the high altar.

During its reconstruction in the 18th century, the church was enriched with remarkable elements, including a master altar from the Jesuit College of Dinant and stalls from the Dominican convent of Huy. Its interior, without central pillars, houses a unique nave and stained glass windows created in 1954. Among his treasures are golden wooden statues of the apostles, a statue of Saint Eloi, and a Crucifixion (1620) attributed to Rubens or Van Dyck.

The bell tower, described by Victor Hugo in 1842 as "a simple dardian needle", is emblematic of the building, built in local blue stone. The church thus illustrates a superposition of architectural periods, mixing medieval heritage, renaissance and classicism, while at the same time showing artistic exchanges between Givet, Dinant and Huy.

Historical sources mention the church in books such as the Dictionary of Churches of France (1969) and the Champagne-Ardenne Heritage Guide (1995), highlighting its role in the religious heritage of the Ardennes. His furniture and works of art, especially the stained glass windows of the 20th century, reflect a cultural and artistic continuity from his presumed origins to the modern era.

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