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Origin and history

The Saint-Aubin church of Ligné-sur-Mayenne, built mainly in the 16th century, preserves older architectural traces, such as a 12th century Romanesque tower. In the 15th century, a side chapel was added, forming a three-span lower side, while flamboyant windows and foothills were pierced. The building thus illustrates the superimposition of styles, mixing Romanesque, late Gothic and later additions.

The inventory of the Church's assets in 1906 marked a conflicting episode: parish priest Baudre refused to open the church to the government agent, obliging the latter to make three legal recommendations in front of a hundred indifferent parishioners. This conflict reflects tensions related to the law of separation of churches and the state (1905). The church was finally inscribed in the Historical Monuments on January 9, 1926, recognizing its heritage value.

Inside, the building houses a wooden vault and an apparent frame, as well as two tuffle and marble retables. The altarpiece of the high altar (1657), by architect René Trouillard, represents a Nativity framed by polychrome statues (Saint Peter, Saint John the Baptist, Saint Aubin). Its four marble columns make it a typical example of the Lavallois altarpiece. A second altarpiece, dedicated to Saint Sebastian, dates from the 18th century. Traces of an ancient degree leading to the sacrary remain on a wall.

The western facade has two doors: one, condemned, was probably reserved for women, while the other, still in use, was intended for men. This separation of entrances by gender reflects the liturgical and social uses of the medieval and modern era.

Historical sources cite local works such as La Mayenne from village to village (Gilbert Chaussis, 1988) or the Dictionnaire historique de la Mayenne (Angot & Gaugain, 1900–1910), which documented his role in the diocese of Laval. Today, the church remains a place of worship and a protected heritage, managed by the municipality.

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