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Origin and history

The old church of Saint-Clair du Vieux-Castel, located in Castels and Bézenac in Dordogne, dates from the 13th century. Originally known as Saint-Clair, it depended on Bigaroque chestnut in the Middle Ages. In 1309 it was united with the monastery of Saint-Cyprien, marking its religious importance in the region. The parish, probably already dedicated to Martin de Tours, benefits from the protection of the lords of Beynac in the 15th and 16th centuries, which in part avoids the destruction linked to the wars of Religion.

The church was erected as a chapel in 1810 after its parish was abolished in 1809, attached to Saint-Cyprien. Delayed in favour of a new, more accessible Romanesque church, it fell into ruins before being restored. Its architecture includes a nave and a polygonal bedside choir, decorated with a broken triumphal arch with capitals carved with fantastic motifs. The surrounding cemetery, still present, was built by the municipality.

Inscribed to historical monuments on November 30, 1965, the church preserves remarkable elements such as the archatures of the choir, carried by columns with leafy capitals. Its history reflects the religious and social evolutions of the Périgord, between seigneurial protection, post-revolutionary decline and heritage preservation. The sources also mention its possible location on an ancient cultural high place, adding a mysterious dimension to its past.

Archaeological and historical studies, such as those of Alberte Sadouillet-Perrin or Jean Secret, highlight his role in the religious landscape of Sarladais. Today, the building remains a major architectural and historical testimony, despite its partial state of ruin and its cultural disuse.

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