The town of Descartes, formerly known as La-Haye-en-Touraine, and then La-Haye-Descartes since the Revolution, received its present name in 1967 to pay tribute to René Descartes who was born there on March 31, 1596.
This small town of 3,300 inhabitants, located 300 km from Paris, has a 12th century church, partially listed as a Historic Monument. It was in this church that the most famous son of the commune, the philosopher and mathematician, was baptized.
Initial findings suggest that the fire was triggered by lightning. According to Météo Centre, lightning struck at 0740. The lightning rod and rooster fixed at the top of the church bell tower were burned and found on the ground.
According to local residents, the fire spread within minutes. Fifty firefighters were mobilized to prevent the fire from spreading to adjoining buildings. The roof of the bell tower also burned and the bell fell. There is a risk of the church’s gable collapsing.
Mass was scheduled for 9:00 a.m. this Sunday. The sacristan, who was in the church at the time of the disaster preparing for the ceremony, did not realize anything was going on before leaving the building. Works of art and sacred objects were rescued and the liturgical furnishings suffered very little damage.
The roof of the church of St. Georges de Descartes, in Indre-et-Loire, burst into flames on Sunday, July 9, 2023 between 7:30 and 8:00. Despite the rapid response of firefighters, it was completely ravaged by fire, and finally collapsed.