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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Saint-Aignan de Trévières Church is a Roman Catholic building, partially rebuilt in the 19th century. Located in the village of Trevières, in the department of Calvados in Normandy, it is dedicated to Saint Aignan, bishop of Orléans, with Saint Exupère, first bishop of Bayeux, as secondary patron. Its westward orientation, rare in the Western Catholic world, and its bell tower since 1909 make it a remarkable monument.

In 1284, Guilbert de Trévières, squire, renounced his right of patronage in favour of the abbey of Montebourg, marking a key step in the medieval history of the building. The tower, the oldest part, combines a square base and a 12th century Romanesque floor, topped by a second floor restored in 1874, with an octagonal arrow. The church, threatened with collapse in 1898, underwent major structural changes.

The bell tower, destroyed by artillery fire on 8 June 1944 during World War II, was rebuilt in 1953. This monument, a witness to historical upheavals, illustrates both Norman Romanesque architecture and post-conflict reconstructions. Its partial classification as historical monuments highlights its heritage value, especially for its iconic bell tower.

The location of the church, at the approximate address of 3 Place Charles Delangle, makes it a central point of the village of Trevières. Its history, documented by sources such as the Monumental Statistics of the Calvados d'Arcisse de Caumont (1857) and recent studies, reflects the religious, architectural and social evolutions of Normandy throughout the centuries.

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