Saint-Nicolas in Morgny-en-Thiérache is another very unusual church worth seeing, even though it was closed when we visited. It is largely built of white stone, although numerous red patches indicate various repairs over the years.

The chancel and nave are from the original 13th-century church; it was rebuilt after numerous Spanish raids in the 16th and 17th centuries and also fortified in the course of this work.

The reinforcement focused mainly on the choir, which was raised by one storey, which served as a refuge and resistance space. As a result, the choir is much higher than the nave, and this impression is reinforced by the bell tower, which paradoxically stands on this part of the building.

On either side of the choir, at the beginning of the walls of the nave, two stone towers rise. These have probably been shortened over the years. The chancel is also reinforced at the head with buttresses of brick. Numerous embrasures cover the outer walls.

The nave, on the other hand, has only two – but very pretty – brick coulter towers on either side of the 15th century Gothic entrance portal.

You can get a key, according to the Thiérache tourism page, from Eugène Leclercq, 7 rue du Grand Pré.