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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Saint-Pierre d'Yvetot Church is a modern Catholic church located in Yvetot, Normandy. It replaces an 18th-century building destroyed in 1940 by German bombings. Its reconstruction, begun in 1949, was completed in 1956 despite technical and administrative difficulties. The campanile, later added, was completed in 1963 with the installation of the bells. The church, of circular plan (40 m in diameter, 20 m in height), is the work of architects Pierre Chirol, Robert Flavigny and Yves Marchand.

The particularity of the building lies in its stained glass windows, made by Max Ingrand, covering 1,046 m2 and representing Norman saints as Saint Valery, Saint Saëns or Saint Ouen. These stained glass windows, considered the largest contemporary ensemble in Europe, combine bright colours (green, gold, blue) and local historical figures. The church underwent restoration work between 1991 and 1994 due to the premature ageing of materials.

The building was listed as historic monuments on October 8, 2001. Its history reflects the challenges of post-Second World War reconstruction, combining architectural modernity and Norman religious heritage. The stained glass windows, in addition to their artistic value, celebrate regional identity through emblematic figures of the diocese of Rouen.

Before its destruction, the original church dated from the 18th century, rebuilt itself after a medieval building attested from the 13th century. This place of worship, central in the community life of Yvetot, has thus experienced several lives, marking each era with distinct architectural styles, from Gothic to modern.

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