Église de Brulon

Romanesque church in Champagne Mancelle

The church of Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul in Brûlon was built in the 11th century following a donation by Burchard, Lord of Brûlon, to the Benedictine abbey of La Couture in Le Mans to establish a priory there.
The apse and the transept crossing with its gambrel bell tower have remained intact since the church was built. The nave, burnt down by the Huguenots, was rebuilt at the end of the 16th century. The original apses, attached on either side of the apse, were demolished in the 17th century and replaced by the current apses in the 19th century. Despite these transformations, the church retains the majestic allure of its origins while bearing the marks of successive generations: A Renaissance swimming pool, 17th-century bays and an 18th-century altarpiece in the apse, a tombstone and plaques honouring prelates in the transepts, a monumental 19th-century Stations of the Cross in the nave, contemporary (21st-century) stained-glass windows in the choir... A leaflet explaining the tour is available on site, along with a triptych commenting on the choir windows. A guided tour can be booked, either as part of a visit to the village or on request. Don't miss entering the priory courtyard to the north of the church, to admire the façade, the stair tower and the carriage porch.