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 he chancel dates from the XII century and is the oldest part of the abbey. It constitutes a prototype that has made Saint-Michel en Thiérache famous.
The originality of the architectural plans for this particular chancel lies in the absidal chapels that were built at a 45o angle with respect to the chancel centre. The walls of the chancel were faced with marble during the XV century
Behind the altar base can still be seen the tomb of Abbot JEAN-BAPTISTE DE MORNAT, whose epitaph reminds us that he was responsible for restoring the abbey. The transept crossing was originally crowned with a lantern like the one at the Laon Cathedral. A lighter wood-frame slated flèche, or spire eventually replaced the lantern.
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he nave makes a skilful transition between the XII century Gothic chancel and the purely classical XVII century façade.
The classical details of the decoration (great semicircular arches, the Ionic pilasters and capitals of the side piers) harmonise with the intersecting rib vault used in the transept and the chancel, without the slightest break.
The ribs of the nave meet at keystones that are carved with the highly expressive forms of monks looking downwards, with their heads facing west.
An interesting detail is that the XVII century architect chose to buttress the lateral thrust of the vault arches of the middle vessel (nave) on the walls by placing metal truss rods that are braced in the outer walls. This arrangement, which is frequently found in Italy, is very rare in France, where the architects preferred buttresses and flying buttresses to metal truss rods, which were not considered to be particularly aesthetic. These were usually reserved for post-constructional bracing.
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large rose window on the northern façade of the transept illuminates the transept. The window is absolutely remarkable for its bold size - 7.15 meters in diameter by outside measurements. It marks the transition between the heavier, more primitive window tracery that had been used up until then (which is the case at Laon), and the entirely rayonnant window tracery that was later adopted for the cathedral in Paris, for example.
