Église Saint-Thomas de La Flèche, Catholic church in La Flèche, France.
Saint-Thomas Church stands in the center of La Flèche and displays features of Romanesque and later Gothic styles added over time. The limestone structure contains a nave with side aisles, a choir, and several chapels that were added across the centuries.
The church was founded in the early 12th century when Hélie, the Lord of La Flèche, built it for Benedictine monks. Over the following centuries, major rebuilding and additions were made to meet the growing needs of the community.
The church keeps a 14th-century polychrome limestone Notre-Dame-du-Chef-du-Pont, named after the chapel of the Carmes castle that stood at the Loir bridge and kept here since 1860. Charles Hoyau carved a polychrome terracotta Saint Sebastian around 1630. A 17th-century oak Saint Michael slaying the Dragon came from the organ top of Amboise collegiate church, bought by parishioners in the early 19th century.
The church is centrally located in La Flèche and easily accessible on foot, with good views from the surrounding streets. For visits, check ahead since opening times vary and certain areas may be closed during services.
Inside are oak choir stalls that originally came from La Boissière Abbey and were moved here in later times. These valuable pieces of furniture were recognized as historical monuments in 1994 and show the craftsmanship of earlier centuries.
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