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Origin and history

Saint-Barthélémy Church, also known as Saint-Arthémy, is a former collegiate church located in Blanzac-Porcheresse, Charente department. Founded under the name of Saint Arthémy, bishop of the Arvernes and martyr of the fourth century, it is said to have been established by the monks of Puyperoux. In 1120 Guillaume de Nersac was the abbot. The oldest remains, such as the dome and the bell tower, date from the early twelfth century, while the choir and the abside were built at the end of the same century. The north and south cruises, as well as the nave, were added in the 13th century.

The building suffered heavy damage during the Hundred Years' War and the wars of religion, especially in 1572. Repairs were undertaken from 1594 onwards, but were carried out over a long period of time. In 1816, a hurricane overturned the bell tower's arrow, causing the span and nave to collapse. Ranked a historic monument in 1890, the church benefited from restorations carried out by the service of the Historical Monuments from 1891.

The architecture of the church reflects its various phases of construction, combining 12th century Romanesque elements with Gothic additions of the 13th century. Despite the destruction and reconstructions, it preserves traces of its medieval past, especially in its structure and decorations. Today, it remains an important testimony of the religious and architectural heritage of the Charente.

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