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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Pierre Tower is a medieval building located in Parcé-sur-Sarthe, in the department of Sarthe (Pays de la Loire). It is the only vestige of a church built in the 12th century, destroyed in 1370 with the exception of its bell tower. The latter, surmounted by a girouette added in the 19th century, bears witness to the religious architecture of the period.

The tower was listed as a historic monument on September 16, 1963, recognizing its heritage value. Owned by the municipality, it is located in Place de la République, near GPS coordinates associated with Insee code 72228. Its present state reflects both its medieval origin and subsequent modifications, such as the addition of the girouette.

At the time of its construction in the 12th century, churches played a central role in the lives of rural communities. They served as places of worship, assembly and territorial marker. The partial destruction of the church in 1370, probably related to the conflicts of the Hundred Years War, illustrates the upheavals in the region. The tower, preserved, became a local symbol.

Today, the Saint-Pierre tower is referenced in the Mérimée and Clochers bases of France, and its official address (1 Place de la République) allows to situate it precisely. Although its location accuracy is assessed as poor (level 5/10), it remains a point of interest for the religious and architectural history of the Sarthe.

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