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Origin and history

The church of Sainte-Eugénie de Marnes-la-Coquette, built between 1859 and 1860, is the work of the architect Jacques-Jean Clerget, also responsible for the Château de Saint-Cloud. It was entirely financed by Emperor Napoleon III, who gave him the term of Saint Eugénie in tribute to his wife, Empress Eugénie. This monument illustrates the religious architecture of the Second Empire, mixing external sobriety and interior decorative richness.

The building is distinguished by its square bell tower surmounted by a building, and a rectangular nave finished with a cul-de-four apse. The stained glass windows, created in 1909 by master glassmaker Charles Lorin de Chartres, as well as the painted decorations made in 1927 by the Caribbean brothers, local artists, testify to a preserved artistic heritage. The interior woodwork, now partially extinct, was executed by a local carpenter, Langlais.

The church, registered as a historical monument since December 21, 1993, is part of an urban programme also involving the town hall. It embodies both 19th-century imperial patronage and local craftsmanship, with artistic contributions spanning several decades. Its architecture and history reflect the links between political power, religion and village community at that time.

Located in Place de la Mairie, the Church of Sainte-Eugénie remains an active place of worship and a symbol of the heritage of Marnes-la-Coquette. Its inscription in the title of historical monuments underlines its architectural and memorial importance, while protecting its unique decorative elements, such as the stained glass windows signed Lorin and the frescoes of the Caribbean brothers.

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