Carentan: Notre-Dame church

A harmonious church exterior

Visible are the choir, tower and south side of church. These exterior elements were constructed in the mid 15th century, at the very end of the 100 Years War. Reconstruction was essential because the earlier church had been severely damaged during the war.

The original church was a late 12th century building, in Norman gothic style. The surviving elements of this earlier church are the West entrance (not visible here) and all the internal columns including the four pillars at the crossing of the transept supporting the bell tower above.

The octagonal spire was modelled on the (early 15th century) spire of St Peter's church in Caen - for which, see the blip for 2 January 2014.