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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Church of Notre-Dame d'Autheuil, located in the Orne department 2.5 km from Tourouvre au Perche, is a Catholic religious building built in the early twelfth century. It illustrates Romanesque architecture by its harmonious proportions, its geminous arches and carved capitals, while integrating Renaissance elements such as its decorated vault. Ranked a historic monument in 1875, it bears witness to the transition between medieval styles and the Renaissance, with details such as the models of the abside or the 14th century painted interlaces on the vault.

The nave, illuminated by narrow windows surrounded by columns, leads to a sober choir where stands a 16th century statue of Notre-Dame. The capitals of the transept, decorated with various motifs (foliage, monster heads, biblical scenes like Adam and Eve), reveal exceptional craftsmanship. An archaeological discovery under the altar in 1975 revealed a treasure of silver coins from the 14th and 15th centuries, probably hidden during the English occupation of the Perch during the Hundred Years War. This historical detail highlights the church's protective role during conflicts.

Recent restorations have revealed hidden elements, such as the arches of the cul-de-four abside or the Renaissance door of the sacristy. The building, a communal property, remains a place of recollection and a major architectural heritage of Normandy. Its bell tower and stone fittings also offer panoramic views of the Percher countryside, strengthening its anchoring in the local landscape.

The Autheuil Heritage and Culture Association contributes to its valorisation, while sources such as the Mérimée base or the diocesan archives document its history. Literary references, such as Paul Claudel's verses evoking the statue of the Virgin, add a poetic dimension to this monument where stone and light respond to create an atmosphere of serenity.

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