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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church Saint-Martin de Hadancourt-le-Haut-Clocher, located in the Oise department in the Hauts-de-France region, is a religious building whose current structure dates mainly from the sixteenth century. It is largely rebuilt after the Hundred Years' War, in a flamboyant Gothic style, although the nave preserves 12th century Romanesque masonries. Its asymmetrical plan, with a short nave of two spans and a more developed choir, is characteristic of the churches of the French Vexin. The building is distinguished by its four-gable bell tower, a rarity in the region, and by the late addition of a transept in the 16th century, while most of the local churches lacked it.

The nave, of Romanesque origin, is vaulted in the Renaissance, while the choir and transept reflect the flamboyant Gothic style. The first span of the choir, dating from the early 13th century, preserves primitive Gothic elements, such as capitals carved from striated leaves. The side crosses and chapels, added in the 16th century, illustrate the transition to the Renaissance, with arches in the middle of the wall and more elaborate decorations. The church, classified as a historic monument in 1922, was restored in 2012.

Under the Ancien Régime, Hadancourt-le-Haut-Clocher was dependent on the Archdiocese of Rouen, then attached to the diocese of Beauvais after the Revolution. The church, dedicated to Saint Martin de Tours, houses remarkable furniture, including 12th century baptismal fonts, Renaissance bas-reliefs, and classified or inscribed statues. Among these works, some come from the former church of Lèvemont, which is now gone. The parish, affiliated with Chaumont-en-Vexin, suspended Sunday Masses in 2018.

The exterior of the building features a sober western facade, with a walled portal and a neo-classical porch. The crusillons and chapels, made of cut stone, contrast with the nave in stone. The bell tower, 33 meters high, is surmounted by an octagonal bellet and adorned with plated pinnacles, typical of the flamboyant style. The church, though modest in size, bears witness to the architectural and religious evolution of the region, from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.

The interior furniture includes classified elements such as baptismal fonts, polychrome stone bas-reliefs depicting biblical scenes, and 15th and 16th century statues. Among these, some came from the church of Lèvemont, now rebuilt elsewhere. The tabernacle, inscribed in the title object, is an example of Baroque ornamentation. The ensemble reflects the artistic and historical richness of this rural building, marked by centuries of transformation and adaptation.

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