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Origin and history

The church Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul de Chaintreaux, located in Seine-et-Marne, is a religious building dating from the Middle Ages, built between the 13th and 15th centuries. Originally dedicated to Saint Hubert, she was then placed under the patronage of St Peter and St Paul. In medieval times, the parish depended on the leprosy of Neroville and the lords of Egreville, as well as on several religious institutions such as the abbey of Cercanceaux and the Commandery of the Templars of Beauvais-en-Gâtinais. The church, listed in the Supplementary Inventory of Historic Monuments since 1949, retains defensive elements such as a massive bell tower, probably used in religious wars.

Church architecture reflects its complex history. The bell tower, made of Souppe stone, has a rooster-shaped girouette, a national symbol. Inside, the choir houses a 17th century baroque altarpiece, classified in 1967, decorated with gilding and statues of Saints Peter and Paul. A 14th century Virgin with Child, classified in 1938, bears witness to medieval art, while frescoes of the 13th century, such as a Tombing and Annunciation, adorn the chapel of the Sacred Heart. These well-preserved works illustrate the liturgical and artistic importance of the building.

The chapel Saint-Hubert, in the north transept, recalls the original dedication of the church. It is home to a relic of the saint (a fragment of the saint) and a round-bosse sculpture of 1616 depicting his mystical vision, classified in 1938. This chapel, separated from the nave by a Gothic vault, also preserves a 19th-century canvas illustrating the same theme. The church floor reveals medieval tombstones, including that of Knight Jehan de Chaintreaux (XIII–XIVth century), classified in 1982, symbolizing the funeral privileges of the nobility.

The walls of the church bear the traces of a 17th century funeral liter, painted for Marie Françoise Elizabeth of the Hospital, wife of Antoine Philibert of Torcy, lords of Égreville. This ornament, a rare example preserved, recalls the seigneurial privileges abolished during the Revolution. Among the remarkable furniture elements, a bronze bell of 1572, classified in 1942, and 18th century liturgical garments, including an embroidered chape, exhibited in the side chapels, complete this rich and diverse heritage.

Today, the church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul remains an active place of worship, integrated into the parish sector of Lorrez-le-Bocage and the diocese of Meaux. It still houses celebrations, such as the Mass of June 29 in honour of Saints Peter and Paul. Its furniture, frescoes and sculptures make it a major testimony of religious art in Île-de-France, combining medieval heritage and additions to modern times.

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