Strengthened Church

For the period of the the Middle Ages, the churches saw them Architecture adapted to the social disorders and policies of the time. The churches of the territories bordering were strengthened so that the local population can there be protected during the invasions and of the wars.

In fact, the parishes far away from some motor-roads were practically out of reach of the armies in shift. Indeed, the country lanes were impracticable for heavy artillery. On the other hand, they were continuously ridges some with the companies of plunderings of the small Spanish bands which crossed the border or of the groups of deserters or French soldiers in rupture of balance who beat the countryside in search of a bad blow.

With each passage of troops, the population took refuge in these forts with their animals during 2 to 3 days.

Two types of fortification are generally found: complete or only on one part transformed into Keep, the chorus or the gate (surmounted of a “ room refuge ”).

Strengthened churches were built (certain not strengthened were then arranged) in France, and in the German-speaking countries. So of many examples exist in south-west (area the Midday-Pyrenees), it is undoubtedly in Picardy, and more precisely in Thiérache, than the term “church strengthened” takes all its specificity.

* One will note that at the same time, in the same frontier region, but more in the west, in the Amiénois, the villagers took refuge not in height as in Thiérache, but under ground, in underground-refuges (called locally “ muches ”), dug starting from the church - as with Domqueur - or of the mill - as to Naours.

Strengthened churches of Thiérache

The number, the specificity and the interest of these buildings established in the Aisne, mainly, but also in the the Ardennes are such as, if several works were devoted to them (like with the “ strong houses ”), the Tourist offices of these two departments do not propose less, in 2006 for example, from 4 to 6 tourist tours:
  • between Own way and Hirson, “ the green axis of Thiérache ” (also interesting the hikers), his/her sister twins (parallel circuit and partly commun run) “ the tourist road of the valley of Oise ” and its arm being stretched in direction of south-east between Étréaupont and Aubenton, “ the tourist road of the valley of the Tone ”
  • a little more in the south, between Vervins and Vigneux-Hocquet, “ the circuit of the valley of the Brune ”
  • in the vicinity immediate in south-east, “ the circuit of the valley Greenhouse ”
  • more in the east still, and out of the department of Aisne, “ the tourist road of the strengthened churches of the Ardennes ”.

Following a public awareness campaign carried out by the local religious organizations (1970-1974), an overall departmental plan of safeguard of the strengthened churches of Thiérache was presented in 1975, was adopted for 10 years and was launched since 1976.

Characteristics and common points

  • defensive Structure by adaptation with the topographie
    • If the building overhangs its immediate surroundings (the first advantage being of thus having a point of observation), the possible attackers had with affonter the rise, sometimes rather stiff, whose difficulty could be reinforced by a stressing of the advantages of the natural site, a little as for a Castle-extremely. (Examples: Englancourt or Esquéhéries)
the slope can be divided into more or less concentric stages, or terraces, at the planted edge of a hedge thick, intended to limit gullying but of course to prevent or at least slow down the access of any hostile band or simple plunderers.

    • If the church is built on a plane surface, more or less wide, its brought closer protection had to be realized by the construction of houses around acting as true circular or rectangular rampart, proposing only narrow passages between them, of the " type; ruelles". (Examples: Macquigny and Rocquigny)

    • According to the cases, certain sites combines the 2 technical , the church overhanging the place only on one or two sides. (Example: Rozoy-sur-Serre)
  • Room-refuge for the villagers
  • Éléments décoratifs integrated into the plane surfaces (frontages) or curves (turns) by use of bricks of darker color, more brilliant (vitrified bricks more or less , or glazed ). One can distinguish ten reasons approximately more in vogue" : dates, crosses, hearts, squarings, etc
in an almost circular zone, practically delimited in north by Oise and the south by the Greenhouse, which corresponds overall to the perimeter formed by the towns of Guise, Capelle, Hirson, Aubenton, Montcornet, with Vervins in the center.

Nonexhaustive alphabetical list of churches strengthened of the of the Ardennes Ardennes out of Thiérache

Nonexhaustive alphabetical list of churches strengthened in area occitane

Nonexhaustive alphabetical list of churches strengthened in Saintonge

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