Eglise Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre

This remarkable church in Bernay-Neuvy-en-Champagne is listed on the "Chemins de terre cuite".

The name of this church comes from a local legend that saw in a hollow in a block of roussard the footprint of Saint Julien, apostle of Maine and first bishop of Le Mans.
According to legend, he crossed this land while evangelising the Champagne Mancelle region. Built towards the end of the 11th century, the church has a simple nave topped by an open bell tower, and has been altered several times since then. The only trace of the Romanesque period is a vestige of an archway in the west doorway decorated with stars. The addition of two side chapels at the beginning of the 16th century was followed by major alterations to the interior of the church, including the installation of three altars decorated with altarpieces featuring high reliefs or sculptures in the round.
The heart of the church and the two side chapels are adorned with three terracotta altarpieces from the second half of the 16th century, the work of an anonymous sculptor from Mance, depicting the Adoration of the Shepherds, the Last Supper and the Entombment.