ÉGLISE ST-MARTIN D’OCTEVILLE

L'église St-Martin belonged to the medieval Abbaye du Voeu of Cherbourg.

It is a Romanesque church with a unique octagonal bell tower.  Construction began in the 12th century.  After this time the church went through many changes.  In the 16 century the tower was modified and the nave was extended.  The façade was built in the 18th century and during the 19th and 20th century repairs and major renovations were made.  An old sundial adorns part of the exterior.  Obviously, St-Martin is most known for its bell tower that dominates the view with its eight sides, gabled roof and small Romanesque window.  The church is surrounded by its graveyard.
The Latin cross plan is not regular because the transept is not symmetrical.  The entrance to the church is very simple and does not include a tympanum.

Around the exterior of the apse, placed at regular intervals under a ledge for support, are elaborately, carved stone corbels.  They are typically Norman and are stylized with heads of humans, animals, imaginary beasts and other motifs.  One of them is actually a sign from the Zodiac.  Can you guess which one ?

One of the oldest sculptures within the church is the bas-relief of the Last Supper which dates from the 12th century.  Others include capitals in the choir.  One is decorated with birds, another head with long, pointed ears and another of a man with a ribbon in his mouth.

Beautiful stained glass windows patterened after stalks of wheat made in Chartres in the 1780s bring light into the choir.
Other sculptures by artist Armand Freret can be seen in the side chapels.  In the north chapel is a Madonna and Child and in the south chapel St-Sebastian.  These both date from the 19th century.