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Church of Saint Martin de Villenave-d'Ornon en Gironde

Patrimoine classé
Patrimoine religieux
Eglise
Eglise romane
Gironde

Church of Saint Martin de Villenave-d'Ornon

    60 Rue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny
    33140 Villenave-d'Ornon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Église Saint-Martin de Villenave-dOrnon
Crédit photo : Hugon Christophe - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

Moyen Âge central
Bas Moyen Âge
Renaissance
Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
XIe siècle
Church Foundation
Fin XIIe - début XIIIe siècle
Modification of bedside
XIVe-XVe siècles
Transept construction
XVIIe siècle
Construction of the bell tower
1920
Classification of the apse
1925
Registration of the church
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

The apse: by order of 12 October 1920; Church, with the exception of the apse classified: registration by decree of 21 December 1925

Key figures

Saint Martin - Church patron Bishop of Tours, inspired by the sharing of the coat.
Drouyn - Local historian (18th century) Described bas-reliefs and sculptures in 1853.
Jean Mazoyer - Painter of the King (17th century) Author of a painting (*Saint Francis of Assisi*).
Pierre Mignard - Classical painter (17th century) Original author of *Baptism of Christ* (copy in 1873).
Francis Chapelet - Organist (XXI century) Inauguration of the organ restored in 2007.
Christophe Hugon - Photographer (Monumentum) Author of photos under Creative Commons license.

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Martin de Villenave-d'Ornon, located in the Gironde department in New Aquitaine, is a religious building dating back to the 11th century. It has undergone many changes over the centuries, notably in the 12th, 14th, 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, reflecting various architectural influences, from the novel to the Gothic. Ranked a historic monument, it is distinguished by its 12th century apse, 17th century bell tower and carved capitals, some of which date from the 11th century.

Founded as a relay on the roads of Santiago de Compostela, as evidenced by the archaeological discoveries of 1967 (sarcophagus with shell and gourd), the church evolved structurally with the addition of Gothic transepts in the 14th and 15th centuries, then of lateral chapels. The 2013 excavations revealed Merovingian sarcophagus (Vth-VIIIth centuries) and medieval burials, confirming its central role in local funeral life for more than a millennium.

The interior preserves remarkable Romanesque elements, such as the 11th century capitals with geometric or figurative motifs (animals, leaves), partially destroyed during the installation of a pulpit in the 18th century. The apse, classified in 1920, has fine sculptures (angels, leaves of water) and a cul-de-four vault. Modern stained glass (1968) contrasts with ancient furniture, including 17th and 18th century statues and classified paintings, such as a Virgin with Child copied by Van Dyck.

The square bell tower, dating from the 17th century, dominates the building with its curved bays and its 1654 sundial. The cemetery surrounding the church, which had been abolished in 1856, had delivered during recent excavations nearly 250 medieval and modern burials, revealing a dense funeral occupation. The Romanesque models of cornice, decorated with human or animal figures, illustrate medieval iconography under ecclesiastical control.

The church, a communal property, remains a major testimony of girondina religious architecture, combining Romanesque heritage (original nave, apse) and later additions (eighteenth century tribune, 19th century sacristy). Its history also reflects the liturgical and social evolutions, from its role in the compostellan pilgrimages to its inscription as historical monuments in 1925 (except apse already classified in 1920).

External links