Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Georges de Souancé-au-Perche, located in the department of Eure-et-Loir in the Centre-Val de Loire region, is a Catholic building whose oldest parts, such as the tower of the bell tower, date back to the 11th or 12th century. The nave, completely redesigned in the 16th century, saw its choir built between 1520 and 1542, while the original Romanesque windows were transformed into ogival windows in the 19th century. The church is classified as a historic monument in two stages, in 1930 for the bell tower and choir, and in 1935 for the entire building.

The 16th century stained glass windows, classified since 1906, represent religious scenes such as the life of Saint George, the Tree of Jesse or instruments of the Passion. In 2017, a restoration was undertaken on five stained glass windows dated 1530. The church also houses a painting classified in 1951, a 16th century oil painting representing a calvary.

The northern facade of the nave preserves the square tower, divided into two floors, while the main door, decorated with columns and arabesques, loses its original porch. Inside, ancient frescoes, rediscovered in the 19th century, were not preserved. Today, the church depends on the parish of Saint-Lubin du Perche and the dean of Perche.

The protected elements include the bell tower and choir (registered in 1930), as well as the entire building (registered in 1935). The property belongs to the municipality of Souancé-au-Perche, and the exact address is 6 Place de l'Église, as referenced in the Merimée base.

The most remarkable stained glass windows illustrate canon donors and Marian or hagiographic scenes. Their recent restoration demonstrates the effort to preserve this heritage. Finally, the church is part of a local religious network, with links to heritage observatories such as Clochers de France or Mérimée.

Available sources, such as Wikipedia and Monumentum, confirm its status as a historical monument and its architectural importance, mixing Romanesque heritage and Renaissance additions, typical of the Centre-Val de Loire region.

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