The small communes of Seine-Maritime are home to architectural gems that have been classified as part of the department?s rural heritage. Such is the case of the Chapelle seigneuriale de l'Église in Hautot-le-Vatois.
Following damage suffered during the Second World War, several restoration projects have enabled the Chapelle seigneuriale to regain all its splendour, which was already highlighted in the 19th century by the founder of archaeology, Abbé Cochet.
As was customary under the Ancien Régime, the great seigneurial families built chapels in their religious buildings. In Hautot-le-Vatois, the Deshamps de Bois-Hébert family built a chapel against the north wall of the church choir between 1632 and 1635. The chapel is a masterpiece of the reign of Louis XIV, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, as is the church itself. The vault and altarpiece are painted to her glory. The stained-glass windows, featuring angel musicians, have been listed on the Inventaire du Patrimoine since 1937, and were restored with the support of the Fondation du Patrimoine between 2009 and 2011.
The church housing the Chapelle Seigneuriale dates back to the 11th century, and was owned by the Abbey of Saint-Wandrille until the French Revolution. The current baptismal font dates from this period. Made of chiselled sandstone, they feature grimacing figures. The Romanesque bell tower, built in the 12th century, was originally located between the nave and the choir. Between 1822 and 1825, it was dismantled and replaced at the church entrance. The nave is preceded by a bell tower. Other treasures include a 16th-century stone statue of the Virgin Mary, various carved funerary stones and religious furnishings.
The Chapelle Seigneuriale was awarded the "Patrimoine Rural de Seine-Maritime" label in 2022, not only for its unique architectural features and wealth of decorations, rare in the region, but also for the quality of its restoration work.
Nearby this astonishing seigniorial chapel, you can also discover some of the nuggets of Yvetot-Normandie?s heritage: visit Saint-Pierre d?Yvetot church, dating from the Reconstruction period, with its stained glass windows by Max Ingrand, and go back in time to the Middle Ages at Manoir du Catel in Ecretteville-Lès-Baons.
Ratings and quality marks
- Patrimoine rural de la Seine-Maritime
Prices
Free for all
Services
Sittings
- Groups welcome