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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Martin church of Montaigu-la-Brisette, located in the Manche department in Normandy, is a Catholic building built mainly in the 13th and 18th centuries. It stands in the heart of a wooded and hilly parish enclosure overlooking the Val de Saire. This site, inscribed in historical monuments since 1970, also includes an ossuary, a calvary, a chapel dedicated to Saint Anne and a miraculous fountain associated with Saint Martin, whose 13th century tympanum represents the famous Charity of Saint Martin, considered the oldest Norman relief of this saint.

The origin of the church dates back to a Romanesque construction, enriched later by lateral chapels of the 16th-17th centuries. The patronage of the church is attested from the twelfth century in the Black Book of the Cathedral of Coutances, where it is associated with Henri d'Anneville. In the 14th century, the White Paper mentions Jehan d'Anneville, Richard de Campo Rotondo and Jean, parish priest of Lorey, as holders of this patronage. The parish enclosure, typical of Norman religious ensembles, also houses an oratory dedicated to Saint Martin and remarkable furniture, including statues and a altarpiece of the 18th to 19th centuries, classified as historical monuments.

The western portal, carved in the 13th century, illustrates a striking episode of Saint Martin's life: sharing his coat with a poor man. This relief, exceptional by its seniority in Normandy, highlights the cultural and artistic importance of the site. The ensemble, owned by the commune, bears witness to the architectural and religious evolution of the region, from medieval origins to additions of modern periods. Furniture, such as a rosary of 1699 or statues of the 14th–15th centuries, complement this rich and diverse heritage.

The protection of the site, formalized in 1970, covers the church, the enclosures, the ossuary, the calvary and the fountain. These elements, combined with local legends such as the miraculous fountain, reinforce the sacred and historic character of the site. The high and isolated location of Montaigu-la-Brisette, in a preserved landscape, adds to the mystical atmosphere of this parish complex, a reflection of Norman piety and craftsmanship throughout the centuries.

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