Church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption de Lavaqueresse
The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption Lavaqueresse, in the department of Aisne, dates from the seventeenth century. Built during a time of a succession of wars, it is a fortified church that could house the surrounding population in times of need. In the choir, we can admire vaults dating from the sixteenth century: they are decorated with floral and royal motifs, which were painted in 1899.
About this building
The construction of the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Lavaqueresse, in the Aisne, dates back to the seventeenth century. The region of Thiérache in which it is located was evangelized in the seventh century by Irish missionaries who built many abbeys there. In the fourteenth century, churches, abbeys and villages were devastated during the Hundred Years War. After a period of calm, the wars resumed at the beginning of the sixteenth century, giving rise to the fortification of many churches. After the many civil wars between Protestants and Catholics during the reign of Henry IV, peace briefly returned. Unfortunately, the bloody history of the region was repeated with the great war against Spain in the seventeenth century. Villages are looted, burned, people massacred.
The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, built during this period of incessant conflict, is a fortified church that would have been used to shelter the surrounding population in times of need. Fortification work seems to have been done in the 17th century. Thus, the church, which measures no less than 32 meters long, has a refuge room above the choir, turrets and a small dungeon. The bell tower, fortified and pierced with loopholes, provides access to the refuge room.
In the choir, there are vaults dating from the sixteenth century: they are decorated with floral and royal motifs, which were painted in 1899. The interior of the church is also decorated with several statues including a Saint Andrew and a Saint Margaret Antioch. Other decorative motifs, made of vitrified brick, are visible on the exterior south facade. Since June 1, 1927, the bell tower and the choir have been classified as Historical Monuments.
