EGLISE SAINT PIERRE - RENÉ

The church of Saint Pierre de René boasts a wealth of 16th and 17th century stained glass windows illustrating the history of stained glass in Maine.

Saint-Pierre church dates back mainly to the 15th and 16th centuries, when it was restored by Jacques Hamelin, whose coat of arms can be seen sculpted on the south wall of the choir. The building has preserved a number of items from this splendid period, some of which are of the very highest quality.

These include the listed wooden stalls, which may have come from Perseigne Abbey. They were given to Jacques Hamelin by Countess F. d'Alençon, Baroness of Saosnois, when he was appointed Bishop of Tulle in 1535.

In the nave, admire the polychrome wooden Christ from the 15th and 16th centuries and the stone Christ above the entrance door.

In the south chapel, the 12th century terracotta statue of Saint Vincent bears witness to a time when René's parish priest was dependent on the powerful Saint Vincent Abbey in Le Mans.

The stained glass windows are also important and bear witness to the art of stained glass in Maine at that time.