Église Notre-Dame de la Couture

Former abbey church turned parish church, Notre-Dame-de-la-Couture owes its current silhouette to a 12th-century rebuilding after a fire that devastated Le Mans in 1180. The 42-meter nave, ribbed-vaulted in the Angevin style, has three bays lit by twin windows topped by an oculus. The west portal, carved from 1245 onward, features two angels, four prophets and eight virgins, a remarkable sculptural ensemble for a church in the Maine region. The two façade towers date from the 13th century. The building now stands next to the Sarthe prefecture, built on part of the former convent buildings.

A bit of history

The abbey was founded just after 605 thanks to the generosity of Bishop Bertechramnus, under the name Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. It took its current name in 616, when Bertechramnus bequeathed to it the land of Couture. Sacked by the Bretons and then by the Normans in 865 and 866, it was partly destroyed and rebuilt around the year 1000 under Bishop Sigefroi. A major fire in 1180 ravaged much of Le Mans and badly damaged the building, which was rebuilt immediately afterward. Most of today's church dates from this 12th-century rebuilding. It was listed as a historic monument as early as 1840, on the first list of protected sites in France.