Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Pérouges, Medieval fortified church in Pérouges, France
The Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Pérouges is a medieval fortified church positioned at the entrance of the old town, featuring walls roughly 1.40 meters thick with arrow slits designed for defense. The building combines religious and military architecture, with internal vaults and side spaces that shaped how it functioned.
Built during the 15th century, the church served as the religious center of the town and gained classified historical monument status in 1912. Its purpose extended beyond worship to include defense of the community.
The vaults inside feature keystones decorated with the Savoy cross, marking the town's connection to the Duchy of Savoy until 1601. These carved symbols tell the story of the region's past allegiances through architectural details you can see while walking through.
The building is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM with free entry for all visitors and no special requirements for entry. You can drop by at any time during these hours without needing advance arrangements or reservations.
A walkway crosses the interior of the building above a side nave, revealing its original defensive purpose in an unusual way. This clever layout combined access for defenders with religious space in a single structure.
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