Church of Sainte-Madeleine
Saint Madeleine Church is located in La Bouille, in Normandy. The Gothic building, built between the XV and XVII century, is composed of three naves separated by elegant columns on which rests a vault of ogive. In 1862, the old steeple was replaced by a new bell tower. Inside the church there are the magnificent stained glass windows, as well as ex-votos and a boat model reminiscent of the port's past.
About this building
The Sainte Madeleine church is located in La Bouille, near Rouen in Normandy. In the eleventh century, the village, located between the cliffs and the Seine, had virtually no farmland. The villagers turned to the river for commerce, such as fishing and transport of Caumont stones, salt, wheat.
The construction of the church Sainte-Madeleine started in 1423. It stands on the site of an old chapel where they say, Louis IX and Blanche of Castile visited on pilgrimages. In the sixteenth century, the port developed the trade of exotic goods: sugar, precious stones, furs. As the point of passage between Rouen and Lower Normandy, the village grew wealthy, with travelers passing through and businesses growing.
The Gothic style church, built between the XV and XVII century, is composed of three naves separated by elegant columns on which rests a vault of ogive. A small steeple, which earned the ironic nickname "La Bouille cathedral", tops everything. The maintenance of the church was not regular, and during the Revolution it was closed. Reopened in 1802, it was not until 1862 that a restoration project was completed and it was decided to replace the steeple with a new bell tower. It houses the bell named ‘Georgette Jeanne’ which melted in 1865.
At the end of the 19th century, in the era of the steamboat, La Bouille, with its lively river and sea activity, became a well-known holiday resort. After the Second World War, with river traffic declining, the village dove into the tourism trade, using its long history, including that of the church. Inside the church, you will notice the magnificent stained glass windows, the paneling and the model of the Marie-Thérèse, reminiscent of the port's past.
