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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Notre-Dame des Montiers church of Tinchebray, located in the Orne department in Normandy, is a religious building whose current construction dates mainly to the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Ranked a historical monument in 1985, it is distinguished by its architecture consisting of a unique nave, a salient transept and a flat-side choir. Its bell tower, rebuilt after the collapse of the old one in 1614, dominates the entrance to the cemetery near the Black River. Interior furniture, partly from the Abbey of Belle-Étoile and the old church of Tinchebray, includes altarpieces, 18th century stalls, and 16th and 18th century statues.

The church's history was marked by major changes, including the construction of the Sainte-Anne chapel in 1622 and the expansion of the choir in 1830 to accommodate an imposing altarpiece. Originally, two parishes coexisted in Tinchebray: Notre-Dame des Montiers and Saint-Pierre, the latter disappeared after their unification in 1791. Saint-Pierre's movable heritage, including two bells, was then transferred to Notre-Dame. The building underwent significant restorations in the 20th century, such as the reconstruction of the south wall of the choir in 1977 and restoration of the cover between 1978 and 1981.

The church retains ancient architectural and decorative elements, such as rope motifs on the pillars and remains of frescoes dating from the late 15th or early 16th century. Its western portal, dating from 1742, changed the initial access to the north. The wooden frame of the bell tower, covered with slates, and the arch of the nave bear witness to the constructive techniques of the 17th and 18th centuries. Despite its small size, the church remains a place of worship and a testimony of Norman religious heritage, enriched by tombstones and a white padigeon covering the interior walls.

The site, owned by the municipality of Tinchebray-Bocage, is located at 2 Chemin des Montiers. Its classification as a historical monument protects both its structure and its exceptional furniture, including a 17th century eagle-lutrin (now restored) and a wrought iron choir fence. The successive amendments, such as the addition of drafts to consolidate the walls, reflect the ongoing efforts to preserve this heritage in the face of the changing needs of the local community.

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