LARCHANT
. The 13th-century church of Saint-Mathurin at Larchant (Seine-et-Marne) is notable for
two reasons. The first is the consistently high quality of the work, which is attributable to
the fact that the church belonged to the chapter of Notre-Dame in Paris, which provided
the builders. Second, its role as a pilgrimage site associated with cures for madness is
commemorated in a 15th-century wood statue of St. Mathurin healing St. Theodora,
afflicted daughter of the emperor Maximilian. The large broad chevet was built at the end
of the 12th or early 13th century, while the Virgin Chapel is close to the Rayonnant work
in the nave of Saint-Denis. The aisleless nave is notable for its breadth and its double
layers of windows, although it has been in ruins since the 17th century.
William W.Clark
Henriet, Jacques. “La chapelle de la Vierge de Saint-Mathurin de Larchant, une œuvre de Pierre de
Chelles?” Bulletin monumental 136 (1978):35–47.
——. “Le chœur de Saint-Mathurin de Larchant et Notre-Dame de Paris.” Bulletin monumental
134 (1976):289–307.
Verdier, Marc. L’église Saint-Mathurin de Larchant. Verneuil l’Étang: Amis des Monuments et des
Sites de Seine-et-Marne, 1969.
LASSAY
. Textual evidence from the 11th century attests to the construction of a fortress at Lassay
(Bas-Maine) that seems to have been larger than the present structure. Built on a bank of
granite, the fortress probably incorporated the square in front of the present château. Built
of granite and covered by a slate roof, the castle was heavily damaged in 1417 during a
siege by the English and was dismantled by Charles VII in 1422. In 1457, Jean de
Vendôme obtained authorization from the king to rebuild the castle. The fact that the
reconstruction took only a year testifies to the viability of the original structure. The keep,
destroyed probably during the events of 1417–22, was not rebuilt.
The castle’s bastions rise from the base of the rock, and its towers rise to a height of
approximately 43 feet. Two entrances, one for pedestrians and the other for carriages,
open on the north side and are equipped with levered bridges. Although no trace of a
portcullis exists, hinges from moving panels and the latch bar have survived. The north
façade, a vulnerable point of the castle, was later accommodated with openings for
artillery.
E.Kay Harris
Beauchesne, Le Marquis de, and E.Lefèvre-Pontaillis. “Le château de Lassay, Mayenne.” Bulletin
monumental 69 (1905).
Vassas, Robert. “Le château de Lassay.” Congrès archéologique (L’Orne) 111 (1953):206–20.
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