Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame de Montbazon, located in the town of Indre-et-Loire, replaces a 16th-century building built around 1550, itself succeeding a medieval chapel cited since 1123. This first sanctuary, dependent on the abbey of Saint Paul de Cormery, was enlarged and renovated several times, notably in 1767 with the construction of a church under Louis XV, looted in 1793 during the Revolution. The remains of these transformations, like a massif of masonry near the side door, bear witness to this turbulent history.

The current reconstruction began between 1851 and 1853, under the impetus of an expansion project entrusted to the diocesan architect Gustave Guérin. The work, completed in 1862, gave rise to a unique neo-Roman-style vessel, with a flat bedside and a slate bell tower. The interior was embellished in 1863-1864 by paintings with the stencil of Henri Grandin, representing religious scenes in trompe-l'oeil, reflecting the 19th century craze for sacred painted decorations.

The church, renovated in 2001 to enlarge the nave, houses remarkable furniture including two statues (Jeanne-Marie de Maillé and Saint Barbe) and a 17th century chasuble classified. Listed as a historical monument in 2003, it illustrates the architectural and artistic evolution of places of worship in Touraine, while preserving traces of its medieval and revolutionary past. Its strategic location, near the former royal road of Spain, also highlights its historic role in the exchanges between Paris and the southwest.

The frescoes of the choir, dedicated to Saint Gatien and Saint Martin, as well as the painted arcades of the nave, create an immersive atmosphere typical of the religious renewal of the Second Empire. The wooden frame and decorated vaults complete this set, while the disappearance of a 17th century copper candlestick (floured around 1961) recalls the vulnerabilities of the heritage. Today, the church is part of the Tourangelle parish of Saint-Brice.

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