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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Sainte-Marie de Lonzac Church is a Catholic church in the commune of Lonzac, Charente-Maritime, New Aquitaine. Built in the 16th century, it was commissioned and financed between 1520 and 1530 by Jacques Galiot de Genouillac, Grand Master of Artillery of France, to house the tomb of his first wife, Catherine d'Arciac, Lady of Lonzac. This monument illustrates the religious architecture of the Renaissance and reflects the importance of noble sponsors in the construction of local churches.

The building consists of a nave of four spans, a transept and a sanctuary, with a bell tower backed by one of the arms of the transept. The church is classified as historical monuments by decree of 21 January 1907, thus recognizing its heritage and architectural value. It is now owned by the municipality of Lonzac and remains a testimony to the religious and social history of the region.

The historical context of its construction is part of a period of prosperity for local elites, where lords and high officials, such as Jacques Galiot de Genouillac, mark their influence with architectural achievements. These monuments served not only as places of worship, but also as symbols of power and family memory, as evidenced by the tomb of Catherine of Archiac integrated into the church.

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