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Navy SORIEUL
Published on
Jan 21, 2025 at 4:13 p.m.
Small village in the heart of the forest, Le Lesme (Eure), bringing together the two historic communes of Guernanville et Sainte-Marguerite-of-the-Altarhas a particularity which deserves some attention.
Attached to its heritage and the history of its country, the commune is a real “open book” which counts in total twenty frescoes, including twelve giant ones, mostly inspired by the French Republic.
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Unique in Normandy, the four giant Republican frescoes to discover at Lesme
Freedom
At the initiative of the Foyer rural du Lesme association, chaired by Gérard Sarreauthe project saw the light of day in 2016, supported by the mayor, Jean-Claude Surmuletand its municipal council. The first fresco appeared the same year at Sainte-Marguerite-de-l'Altel on the wall of the “grand'Maison”.
It represents the first notion of the motto of France, Liberty, inspired by the famous painting by Eugène Delacroix dating from 1830.
Equality
Conquered by the work of the village painter, Angelique Barréwho carried out this work, the mayor and his deputies did not want to stop there.
After Liberty, it was obvious to illustrate Equality and Fraternity.
Thus, a second fresco appeared the following year, this time representing Equality, near the town hall. To illustrate it, the artist was inspired by a real photograph of a class at the village school.
We see the teacher giving a lesson on one of Claude Monet's famous paintings. It is more precisely equal opportunities thanks to the School that this fresco is talking about.
Fraternity
The last fresco of the Republican trilogy was drawn on the wall of the old arsenal at Sainte-Marguerite-de-l'Altel in 2018. It is a reproduction of a work by Maurice de Vlaminck which illustrates the Fraternity.
-We see the succession of generations with a representation of the former mayor, then the current mayor and a little girl.
A tribute to the history of France
To the trilogy was then added the “ Gallery of Republics » where each of them, up to the fifth, is represented by a key image and associated with its motto and its emblem.
In the former commune of Guernanville, there are two other giant Republican frescoes. One is titled “ Freedom in celebration “, the other represents “ sharing know-how ».
On the latter, the work of our ancestors is highlighted. It illustrates the professions of clog makerof boulangerof water bearer and of firefighterand their evolution which results from the transmission of know-how. We can read a quote from François Mitterrand; “we learn nothing by word, but everything by example”.
The small (not so small) last
The last painting to be added to the collection, in 2024, is in the heart of Sainte-Marguerite-de-l'Altel. It represents a photograph taken on the day of the Liberation of the village.
The number of the tank in the image is really the number of the one who liberated our village.
A different style for this one which was created by another local artist, the famous Lyric graffiti artist, Atomik.
Soon a 21st fresco
In addition to the giant Republican frescoes which have an educational and cultural role, we can see other paintings in different places in the town indicating, for example, the village hall or representing the plan of the village.
Over the years, these frescoes constitute the particularity of the village, something unique in the region, which encourages passing visitors to stop and observe.
A 21e should join the collection in 2025. “We will meet to choose the theme and the location, but the project is underway,” announces the mayor. “As long as there are walls that we can use, we will continue,” adds Gérard Sarreau.
An open-air museum!
In addition to the frescoes, the village of Lesme highlights its movable heritage. Over time, the treasures of the village that were found were restored in order to be exhibited, and so that each resident can admire this heritage and know the history of their village.
This is the case of the fire pumps from the two old towns, dating from the 19th century, which are on display in the towns. But also the funeral hearse, found in a building in the town and completely restored, without a piece missing, not even the embroidered “PF” cap. The car is also driven by Papillon, a horse which bears the real name of the horse of the time.
In the village of Sainte-Marguerite-de-l'Autel, visitors can also discover the Lesme cannon. Thus, 90% of the movable heritage of Lesme is on display.
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