Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint-Martin d'Arces church, located in the Charente-Maritime department, is a Catholic building dating back to at least the eleventh century. Ceded in 1086 at the abbey of Saint-Étienne de Vaux, it was rebuilt in the 12th century, period of which its three-sided Romanesque apse remains. This vestige is the only remaining element of the original building, which has undergone many changes over the centuries.

In the 17th century, important works transformed the structure of the nave, while the present façade, built in 1703, was distinguished by its broken triangular frontal door and rectangular bay, framed by massive foothills. The sanctuary, composed of a unique nave and a transept extended by two Gothic seigneurial chapels, replaces the Romanesque apsidioles from the fourteenth century. The right side chapel houses 15th century frescoes, rediscovered in 2018.

The octagonal bell tower, surmounted by an arrow of slate, dominates the cross of the vaulted transept in cloister arch. In the 19th century, the apse was completely redecorated with murals and a painted celestial vault, while the stained glass and statuary also date from this period. The altarpiece of the choir, restored in 1994, bears witness to the continuous maintenance of this monument classified since 1911. Its location on a promontory offers stunning views of the hills, the Gironde estuary and the shores of the Médoc.

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