Rives En Seine July 2016 Eglise Notre Dame De Caudebec En Caux Aerial View Rosace Jf Drone N CauxRives En Seine July 2016 Eglise Notre Dame De Caudebec En Caux Aerial View Rosace Jf Drone N Caux
©Rives En Seine July 2016 Eglise Notre Dame De Caudebec En Caux Aerial View Rosace Jf Drone N Caux

Notre-Dame church of Caudebec-en-Caux

Victor Hugo said of it, “c’est une dentelle de pierre”.

The church of Notre-Dame de Caudebec-en-Caux is indeed a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. Built in the Romanesque style in the 12th century, it became a jewel of flamboyant Gothic art in the 15th century.

Resilience and Renaissance of a Historic Jewel

It dominates Caudebec-en-Caux with its splendour and majesty. Yet since the Renaissance, the church has fallen on hard times. During the Council of Thirty and even more so during the French Revolution, it was the target of damage. Its salvation came when it was listed as a historic monument in the mid-19th century.

The church of Notre-Dame was then pampered for a century. Several episodes of restoration enabled it to retain all its beauty.

The year 1940 could have been fatal to it. Following an Allied bombardment, the town of Caudebec-en-Caux was partly destroyed by a huge fire. The church remained standing, but the damage was extensive. It was not until 50 years later, in 1990, that the restoration work begun in the aftermath of the Second World War came to an end, restoring the church to its former glory.

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A sound journey through the ages An exceptional organ

But let’s go inside. Let’s push open the heavy doors and discover the immensity of the place. The sun enters and floods the bays with its coloured reflections through the stained glass windows. It illuminates the statues and statuettes, which seem to be conversing, with its softness and clarity.

But aren’t they more likely to be captivated by the masterly organ that rises above the great portal?

Built in 1542, it was enlarged two centuries later, from one to four manuals. To prevent it suffering too much damage during the Revolution, patriotic tunes were played.

The organ at Notre-Dame church was completely dismantled in 2002. On this occasion, the 2,700 steel and tin pipes were restored. Its reputation now extends far beyond the borders of Normandy.

At the moment, the commune of Rives-en-Seine, is launching a sponsorship campaign to restore the spire and bell tower of its church.