Église de la Madeleine de Montargis, Gothic church in central Montargis, France.
The Église de la Madeleine is a Gothic church with three vessels, lateral chapels, and an asymmetrical transept designed as a hall-church with Renaissance elements. The interior feels open and bright thanks to tall windows that flood the space with daylight throughout the day.
Construction started in 1183 as a secondary church, but in 1377 it became the main parish church, triggering significant expansion of the building. This transformation established it as the most important religious site in Montargis for the centuries to follow.
The church displays 42 stained glass windows, with 34 created by the Lobin workshop between 1859 and 1873 showing scenes from local history. These windows tell stories that people in the area would have recognized and valued in their daily spiritual life.
The main entrance is on a narrow street on the western side, while the Renaissance chevet faces Place Mirabeau for better sightlines from the square. Visitors should take time to explore both the exterior and interior to appreciate all the architectural details.
A distinctive stained glass window depicts Saint Francis Xavier converting Japanese people, a subject that has attracted attention from Japanese media and researchers worldwide. This unusual religious theme in a French context captures the curiosity of visitors from many countries.
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