Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church Saint-André, located in Louzac-Saint-André in Charente, is a 12th century Romanesque building built on a promontory overlooking the Ris-Bellot, a tributary of the Antenne. Close to the ancient Roman Way of Saints-Lyon, it once belonged to the diocese of Saints before being attached to that of Angoulême. This monument was the heart of an important priory until the French Revolution, demonstrating its central role in local religious and community life.

The architecture of the church is characterized by a unique nave vaulted in a broken cradle and a choir in the middle, typical of Romanesque art. The bedside, adjacent to the buildings of the former priory (now a school), and the more recent bell tower are significant. The western facade, classified in 1991, has a portal, a window and a cornice decorated with carved modillons. During the 2002 renovation, the faces of local mayors inspired restored sculptures.

The church underwent several restorations, notably in 1784, 1885, and between 2001 and 2003. Its furniture includes a 12th century bell and a 19th century wooden altarpiece. The bell tower, dating from the 16th century, and the gate, decorated with foliage, reflect additions after the Romanesque period. Historical graffiti and side chapels, added between the 14th and 16th centuries, complete its architectural history.

Classified as a historic monument since 2012, the church belongs to the commune. His history of perpetual vicary linked to the chapter of Saints and his archpriested Jarnac underline his importance in the medieval religious organization. The 19th century works, like the brick vaulting of the nave in 1892, marked its evolution until the contemporary era.

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