Eglise Saint-Crépin de Château-Thierry

Of the three churches in Château-Thierry, only Saint-Crépin remains today. Built on an old chapel demolished during the Hundred Years' War, it was located "outside the walls" of the castle. Plundered by the English at the beginning of the 15th century, it was rebuilt and became a "church-hall". During the revolutionary period, it was used to store hay. In 1794, a violent storm hit its spire, which fell and broke its roof. It was then replaced by a simple gable roof. After its reconstruction, with its enormous proportions (36 m height for the tower of the bell tower), in limestone and sandstone bases, it offers a nave of eleven impressive bays and the keystones are sculpted, representing faces in profile. Its immense stained glass windows from the Second Empire and its choir were destroyed in 1918. Rebuilt by the master glassworkers Gigon, Picol and Le Chevalier. Saint-Crépin benefits from a superb light thanks to its shimmering colors. Did you know that Jean de La Fontaine was baptized in the baptismal font of this church? Yes, it was on July 8, 1621!

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