Free visit of Saint Peter Saint Paul Church
The Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul d'Essay was probably built by William I of Bellême nicknamed «Talvas» that is to say the «Shield», at the same time as the castle in the 11th century. The most remar-quable part is located at the base of the bell tower. We notice in ef-fet the «opus spicatum» apparatus specific to the 11th century. The word “apparatus” refers to the manner in which the stones are arranged, and “opus spicatum” refers to this manner, that is, in cob. This square tower that surmounts the main entrance looks strangely, with its loophole-shaped windows, like a dungeon, and does not seem to have been built to receive a bell tower. Indeed, on the ground floor there is no passage to hoist the bells. To do this, you have to pierce the wall at the height of the wall and to ring them, you have to take the staircase of the second tower.Free visit on Saturday from 9am to 5pm and on Sunday from 9am to 7pm.