Eglise
Church
Eglise, located in Bailleul-lès-Pernes (Pas-de-Calais), 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
- Bailleul-lès-Pernes, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 50.5061, 2.3900
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00108188
Discreet but precious, the church of Bailleul-lès-Pernes shelters under its 17th century stones the soul of an Artesian village. It has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1926 for its remarkable sculpted features and its bell tower-porch.
History
Nestling in the heart of the village of Bailleul-lès-Pernes, in the Pas-de-Calais department, this 17th-century parish church is one of those rural architectural gems that the Artesian plain has managed to preserve from the upheavals of time. Its inclusion on the Monuments Historiques list in 1926 testifies to the early recognition of its heritage value, at a time when the whole region was still licking the wounds of the First World War. The first thing that strikes the visitor is the coherence of the whole: built according to the canons of the provincial baroque characteristic of the Artois region in the 17th century, the church combines sober volumes inherited from the late Gothic tradition with an interior décor where the influence of the Catholic Counter-Reformation can be felt, combining Flemish sobriety with the decorative élans typical of Tridentine piety. The local limestone, gilded and patinated by the centuries, gives the building a visual warmth that contrasts with the greenery of the surrounding hedged farmland. Inside, attentive visitors will discover remarkable liturgical furnishings - altarpieces, baptismal fonts and wood panelling - that illustrate the religious revival inspired by the Counter-Reformation in this region, which had long been disputed between France and the Spanish Netherlands. The natural acoustics of the nave, typical of vaulted buildings from this period, invite you to pause and contemplate. The village setting further enhances the appeal of the site. Bailleul-lès-Pernes, set in the gentle hills between the Lys and Scarpe rivers, offers the church an unspoilt rural setting, with brick and stone houses encircling the forecourt, creating a picture of authenticity that is rare in the region. An ideal visit for lovers of rural religious heritage and local history.
Architecture
The architecture of the church in Bailleul-lès-Pernes is typical of the 17th-century provincial baroque of the Artesian region, a synthesis of late-Gothic Flemish heritage and the classical influences that were beginning to spread from Paris and Spanish Flanders. The simple, functional layout consisted of a single nave or a nave flanked by narrow aisles, covered by a barrel vault or panelled roof, in the tradition of smaller rural buildings. The flat or polygonal chevet, typical of Artesian buildings from this period, gives the building a compact, robust silhouette. Externally, the construction uses white or slightly ochre limestone extracted from local quarries, often carefully matched at the corners and window frames, while the secondary parts may combine brick and stone in a two-tone play of materials typical of the region. The bell tower, which probably stands on the western porch or the first bay, is the focal point of the composition, with its stone or slate spire crown visible from a distance on the plain. Inside, the most remarkable features are undoubtedly the period liturgical furnishings: one or more carved wooden or stone altarpieces, possibly accompanied by polychrome statues illustrating local saints or post-Tridentine devotional themes. The ancient baptismal fonts, the wood panelling in the choir and any remains of wall paintings are all features that fully justify the church's listing as a Historic Monument.
Related Figures
Évêques d'Arras du XVIIe siècle, promoteurs de la reconstruction des édifices paroissiaux artésiens après les guerres de ReligionSeigneurs locaux de Bailleul-lès-Pernes, mécènes probables du chantier de construction et donateurs du mobilier liturgiqueMaîtres d'œuvre anonymes des ateliers d'Arras ou de Saint-Omer, artisans du décor sculpté intérieurCurés de la paroisse ayant assuré la continuité du culte sous la Révolution et la restauration post-concordataireInspecteurs des Monuments Historiques ayant instruit le dossier d'inscription en 1926
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Eglise located?
Eglise is located in Bailleul-lès-Pernes, Pas-de-Calais department, Hauts-de-France region, France.
When was Eglise built?
Eglise dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Eglise open to visitors?
Eglise is currently closed to visitors.