Church of Saint-Saturnin
The Merovingian chapel built by Dagobert on the site of the present church was destroyed in 861. The church of Saint Saturnin was built and enlarged from the 11th to the 20th century. Classified as a historical monument in 1909, the 11th and 12th century bell tower has been restored several times. In 1794, in order to erase any vestige of religion, the horizontal arms of the cross which surmounted the bell-tower were sawn off: it is this strange metallic decoration that can be seen on the lawn in front of the church. With its 32.50m height, the bell tower would pass entirely under the nave of Notre-Dame de Paris! Beheaded by lightning in August 1942, its spire was only rebuilt identically after the war. The present porch was bought by Mrs Smith-Champion from the city of Paris and offered in 1914 after the church was enlarged. It probably comes from a Parisian convent. Flamboyant Gothic (late 14th century), it is decorated with a mosaic and surmounted by a Virgin and Child dating from 1914.
About this building
The church has a bell tower on one of its sides in the form of a Romanesque tower. This strictly quadrangular structure, whose upper part houses the belfry, is overhung by a roof with a spire that was made of stone material. In addition, the ridge of the bell tower is terminated by a weather vane representing a rooster. The central nave has four bays, three of which are original, built during its elevation. The fourth, which increases the size of its vessel, was built more recently. There are still visible signs of this enlargement. This central structure is completed by a choir, which is provided at its end with flat double-bayed chevets.
