Centre Culturel - ancienne Église Saint-Pierre et Saint-Clair

Located on the Alabaster coast, at the gates of Fécamp on a chalky plateau, the commune of Sainte-Hélène-Bondeville attracts people both by its proximity to the sea and the tranquility of its rural setting. The church of Sainte-Hélène, which has become the cultural center of the town, was awarded the label "Patrimoine Rural" (Rural Heritage) by the Department of Seine-Maritime in 2021.

Before going to put down our towels on the pebbles of the beach of Fécamp and enjoy the joys of the seaside, I suggested to my Parisian friends on a weekend at home, to make a picnic stop in a typical village of the Pays-de-Caux. While driving towards the Alabaster coast, I aroused their curiosity by telling them about an atypical place that was going to impress them: the Sainte-Hélène-Bondeville church. Indeed, this former place of worship has been desacralized and transformed into a cultural center. Let's go for a visit!

As soon as we enter the village, the church is in front of us, set in its green setting and flowerbeds. Impossible to miss it with its truncated bell tower. "How quiet it is! It's really nice" says Camille.

It is a pretty church, all in sobriety made of brick and blond flint. While following the alley to discover this place, our nostrils enjoy the perfumes of the red roses planted in flower boxes placed on the lawn. The green of the box hedge increases this spectacle. Only a few tombstones are placed there at the foot of the calvary, on which three niches have probably sheltered statues, now disappeared. Going around the chapel and the apse, we see a modern extension totally integrated in this place.
My Parisians discover a superb cherry tree which decides our installation for the picnic.
During the tasting of our local products, Camille, with the help of her cell phone, searches on the Internet for information about our charming church. With her mouth full, she mumbles as she reads her historical find: "The commune has a cultural center, in place of the old Saint-Pierre church. Very popular for its architectural beauty inside and outside, it hosts communal events, numerous exhibitions - painting, sculpture, photography, floral art - concerts, it can also be rented to individuals. The lower parts of the church of Sainte-Hélène-Bondeville were built in the 16th century and the upper parts in the 18th century, as was the bell tower with its high octagonal spire
Ophélie cuts her off, "But the bell tower has disappeared?
"Yes, but the church had its ups and downs during the 20th century! That explains everything," Camille replies.
Ophélie finds the history of this place particularly original and decides to make a post on Facebook. "Shall we take a selfie, girls?
After this moment of break and these Norman agapes, we leave again in direction of Fécamp to refresh ourselves and admire the impressive cliffs worthy of the brushes of the Impressionist painters.