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Origin and history

The church of Sainte-Madeleine in Davron originates in the chapel of the local castle, given between 1117 and 1130 by Nivard de Poissy to the Benedictine Abbey of Notre-Dame de Josaphat (near Chartres) to found a priory. The Western portal, typical of the Romanesque style with its columns and ressalts, dates from this period. This portal illustrates the rural religious architecture of the first 12th century, marked by brazed forms and sober decorations.

The present nave, covered with a false vault lambrased in the middle, dates back to the first half of the 16th century, as its masonries and its apparent structure attest. The choir, vaulted dogives and finished with a circular apse, was rebuilt around 1630 by Claude de Bullion, Superintendent of Finance of Louis XIII. The latter, who bought the seigneury of Wideville, placed his coat of arms there, blending late Gothic tradition with emerging classicism. The three-level tower was probably built under its direction.

The lateral chapels, which form a false transep, have more uncertain dates: the southern chapel dates from the second half of the 17th or 18th century, while the north chapel, which has been modified several times, may be older. Their dogid vaults were probably added in the 19th century. The priory, dependent on Josaphat, became parish church in 1690, after the reconstruction of the choir and the disappearance of the convent buildings around 1830.

The building preserves heteroclite elements, reflecting its evolution over six centuries: from primitive novels (portals) to late Gothics (choirs), to classic additions. The persistence of Gothic tradition until the 17th century, visible in the choir warheads, makes it a rare example in Île-de-France. The tower-clocher, with its roof in the pavilion, and the carved caps of the northwest and southwest corners of the choir, highlight its hybrid character.

Classified as a Historical Monument in 2021, the church of Sainte-Madeleine now belongs to the municipality of Davron. His simple plan — unique nave, two-span choir and apse — contrasts with the complexity of his history, linked to the local lords (Nivard de Poissy, Claude de Bullion) and the Benedictine order. The stained glass windows, including a rise in the western bay, and the masonries offer clues on its successive transformations.

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