Église Saint-Martin de Cinqueux

About

Saint Martin Church is a parish Catholic church located in Cinqueux, France. It has one of the oldest basilica naves in the area, which is expected to go back to around 1080. Outside, the two flat foothills flanking the western facade, the side windows of the nave, the billet cords as the only element of the decor, and the curious opus spicatum tympanos of the old portals of the facade and the south side date from origin.

The interior is of great sobriety, and the large arcades fall on simple impostes engraved with geometric or carved decoration. The eastern parts and the large rosace at the top of the facade are primitive Gothic and were built in the early 13th century at the site of the Roman shrine. On February 17, 1910, the south-east pile of the bell tower, which rises above the cross of the transept, suddenly collapsed, and led in its fall part of the vaults of the spans around.

Instead of supporting the bell tower, the authorities rushed to have the rest of the bell tower dynamited. The church is closed to worship, and despite the protests of parishioners, no reparations have been made.