Ancienne église Saint-Laurent
ChurchHidden Treasure
Ancienne église Saint-Laurent, located in Beaulieu-lès-Loches (Indre-et-Loire), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Church
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Beaulieu-lès-Loches, Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.1290, 1.0123
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00097562
The Romanesque-Angelesque jewel of Beaulieu-lès-Loches, the former church of Saint-Laurent boasts characteristic Plantagenet-style vaulted ceilings and a sober, square 12th-century bell tower, bearing witness to a remarkably well-preserved medieval past.
© Wikimedia Commons
History
Nestling in the historic market town of Beaulieu-lès-Loches, in the Indre-et-Loire region, the former church of Saint-Laurent is one of those medieval buildings that speak in hushed tones but with rare eloquence. Although it has been disused since the French Revolution, it nevertheless retains a highly coherent architectural style that reflects two centuries of careful construction, from the late 12th to the early 13th century. What makes Saint-Laurent truly unique is the presence of the so-called "Angevin" vaults - these domed vaults with a typical Plantagenet Gothic profile, characteristic of the Anjou and Touraine regions. Rarely so well preserved in a building of this scale, they give the nave and its two side aisles an airy lightness that would not be expected at first glance from the outside. The light filtering through the side windows creates subtle shadow effects on the vaults, changing with the hours. Attentive visitors will notice the superimposition of periods: the older choir still belongs to the rigorous Romanesque style of the late 12th century, while the two side chapels added in the 16th century bear witness to a revival of local fervour during the Renaissance. The square bell tower, squat and austere, watches over the north aisle of the choir like a stone sentinel. Beaulieu-lès-Loches itself is well worth a visit: just a stone's throw from the meandering Indre, the commune is home to Beaulieu Abbey, founded by Foulques Nerra, and together with Loches forms an exceptional heritage site in the Indre valley. Saint-Laurent is a discreet but precious link in an area steeped in Capetian and Plantagenet history. A visit to the former church of Saint-Laurent is just as much for those with a passion for medieval architecture as it is for the curious walker in search of serenity. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1952, it is a touching example of preserved rural heritage, far from the hustle and bustle of the major tourist circuits, and an invitation to authentic contemplation.
Architecture
The former church of Saint-Laurent has a single nave flanked by two side aisles, extended by a two-bay chancel slightly in front. The choir, which is older, is late Romanesque from the end of the 12th century, while the nave and side aisles, built in the early 13th century, are in the so-called "Plantagenet" Gothic style from Anjou. This style, specific to the territories of Anjou and Touraine under the rule of the Counts of Anjou and then the Plantagenets, is characterised by its curved vaults with an ovoid profile, much more prominent than the classical Gothic vaults of the Île-de-France region, giving the spaces a remarkable height and lightness. The bell tower, built in the 12th century on a square plan, rests on the north aisle of the choir, an asymmetrical arrangement not uncommon in regional Romanesque architecture. Its sober silhouette and carefully coursed tufa stone courses - a favourite Touraine material - make it an immediately recognisable visual landmark in the urban landscape of Beaulieu-lès-Loches. The two side chapels added in the 16th century on either side of the choir introduce a discreet Renaissance note, perceptible in the treatment of the arches and windows, without disrupting the overall harmony of the building.
Related Figures
Foulques Nerra (972-1040) — comte d'Anjou, fondateur de l'abbaye de Beaulieu voisine, dont l'influence religieuse et politique conditionna le développement de la paroisse Saint-LaurentLes chanoines de l'abbaye de Beaulieu — communauté religieuse qui supervisa vraisemblablement l'érection de la chapelle primitive et son élévation en cure vers 1229Les maîtres d'œuvre anonymes du début du XIIIe siècle — artisans formés à l'école angevine qui réalisèrent les voûtes Plantagenêt de la nef
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ancienne église Saint-Laurent located?
Ancienne église Saint-Laurent is located in Beaulieu-lès-Loches, Indre-et-Loire department, Centre-Val de Loire region, France.
When was Ancienne église Saint-Laurent built?
Ancienne église Saint-Laurent dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Ancienne église Saint-Laurent open to visitors?
Ancienne église Saint-Laurent is currently closed to visitors.