Pontorson (Manche)
Once Normandy won over to the Reformation, it was to be a region with a dense Protestant population throughout the 16th century. The noble Huguenot family of Montgomery owned the Pontorson fief.
A temple spared during the 17th century campaigns of destruction
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The temple of Pontorson, 17th (Manche) © S.H.P.F.
The Pontorson place of worship was on the the Montgomery-Lorge grounds. The edifice may initially have been a tithe-barn in which windows were opened, and the building transformed into a temple.
Built before the Edict of Nantes in 1598, it was to be officially used as a temple until 1625. It was then closed under the pressure of the Catholics and used as a store. It was never to be used again as a temple. It was recently bought by the city, protected as a national trust building and managed by an Association to safeguard the Pontorson place of worship.
Pontorson (Manche)
Pontorson
Associated tours
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Surviving Temples built before the Revolution
Some regions escaped destruction due to the late incorporation into France as was the case for Alsace because the Westphalia treaties specifically mentioned that the Edict of Fontainebleau should not...
Associated notes
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The Edict of Nantes (1598)
This was Henri IV’s major achievement : the terms of this edict ensured the peaceful coexistence of Catholics and Protestants and brought a stop to all hostilities in France after 36 years...