Montcornet - Saint-Martin

Saint-Martin was erected within the 13th century on a "greek-cross floor plan". When Montcornet burnt down in 1547, the church got severely damaged, the bell tower collapsed and destroyed the porch. The church got rebuilt and reconstructed with buttresses. The two towers, seen here, flanking the facade were added 1609/1610.

During the French Revolution the church became a "Temple of Reason" and was later used as a saltpeter factory. Restoration started within the 19th century.

The church suffered damage again in WWI, when it was used as a hospital for the wounded soldiers, and during WWII, when in 1940 a train, loaded with ammunition, exploded in the trainstaion of Montcornet.