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Origin and history

The Saint-Saturnin church of Saint-Saturnin, located in the Charente department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, is a religious building dating back to the twelfth century. Dedicated to Saturnin of Toulouse (or Saint Sernin), it was partially rebuilt and restored in the 15th century, then classified as a historical monument on 7 December 1973. Its architecture combines Romanesque elements, such as its facade adorned with four vestures and carved modillons, and Gothic additions, including its arches of warheads and its formationets. The nave, preceded by a span supporting the bell tower, is covered with ivy vaults, while the narrower choir ends with a straight bedside.

The western facade, dated from the late twelfth century, is distinguished by its three decorative floors. The gate, framed by columns with carved capitals, is surmounted by a cord of diamond tips. Above, two used tympanos represent religious scenes: one shows a saint offering a crown to a bishop, the other, the Christ blessing between the Virgin and Saint John. The top floor, openworked with a central window, is decorated with saw toothed arcades. Inside, the church houses a 17th century painting, representing the Crucifixion, classified as a historical monument as an object in 1995 despite its degraded state.

The building experienced several restoration campaigns, including one in 1870 and a complete ravage of the walls and facade in 2010. Signed in 1110 in the texts, the parish church played a central role in local life, as evidenced by its successive transformations. Today owned by the municipality of Saint-Saturnin, it remains a remarkable example of religious architectural evolution between the Middle Ages and modern times in Poitou-Charentes.

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