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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame d'Ecueillé, located in the town of Villeloin in the Centre-Val de Loire region, is a former Prioral founded by the religious of Villeloin Abbey at the end of the 12th century. Built in the medium tufted apparatus in the Romanesque style, it was covered at the beginning of the 13th century with arches in cross-doves, typical of the Angelian influence. This monument thus illustrates the transition between the Romanesque and Gothic periods, with a Romanesque portal opening onto a gothic nave.

The building underwent major reshuffles in the second half of the 15th century, especially for the three eastern spans and the bell tower. A 16th century porch, still present in 1954, preceded the Romanesque portal. Inside, traces of paintings remain, including a funerary liter. Disused since 1906, the church was classified as a Historical Monument by order of 10 February 1987. Today, it belongs to the town of Furnished and retains architectural elements that bear witness to its multiple phases of construction.

The main material used, tuffeau, local limestone, reflects regional resources and know-how. The foundation by the abbey of Villeloin highlights the role of religious establishments in the development of cultural buildings in Touraine and in the nearby Berry. Early decommissioning in the early 20th century and the partial preservation of its interior decorations bear witness to this fact, both architectural and historical, of medieval and modern religious and artistic practices.

The location of Écuillé, in the Indre department, places this monument at the crossroads of the architectural influences of the Loire Valley and Berry. The successive changes, notably Gothic and Renaissance, illustrate the evolution of liturgical styles and needs. The absence of worship since 1906 has allowed partial preservation, although the building has undergone transformations and re-appropriation by the municipality for uses not specified in the sources.

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