The church of Notre-Dame in Liart is certainly the most spectacular of the fortified churches in the Ardennes, and also among the most impressive in the entire Thiérache.

In the 12th century, a chapel was built in the village in honour of Notre-Dame-du-Lierre (of which Liart is a corruption). Traces of this can still be found in the stone surround of the portal that gives access to the nave.

It was not until four centuries later that a church was built in the village; construction began with the choir at the end of the 16th century, and the spectacular ashlar keep was added at the beginning of the 17th century. It is undoubtedly the most impressive part of the building because of its size. The builders did not want to flank the portal tower with individual cylinders, as is often the case, but to extend the façade with massive rectangular towers. This gives it a very broad appearance. The small entrance as well as the preserved bretèche above it further reinforce the impression of strength.

The head end is flanked by two polygonal towers with embrasures – of which there are an impressive 28 to be seen throughout the building – and reinforced by buttresses.

The choir and the vestibule each have an escape room, which can be reached via the towers at the head or the façade. In one of these rooms on the upper floor of the porch tower are the remains of an old fireplace shaft.

Otherwise, the church is surprisingly bright and friendly inside, in stark contrast to the bulky and forbidding exterior.