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Origin and history

The church of the Décollation-de-Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Fanlac, located in the eponymous village of New Aquitaine, was originally conceived as a fortress in the 12th century. Its defensive aspect, marked by murderers later replaced by berries, reflects the tumults of the Hundred Years' and Religion's Wars. These conflicts have profoundly marked its history, requiring major redevelopments, especially in the choir (XV century) and the bell tower (early 18th century).

The nave of the building ends with a flat bedside, preceded by two side chapels under the pediment, added after the medieval destructions. A bas-relief embedded in the north wall immortalizes an episode of the Hundred Years' War: the Lord of La Jalaye, defending the church against the English, lost his right hand there. This detail illustrates the strategic role of the building during conflicts, while highlighting its roots in local history.

Outside, the church retained its original defensive appearance, despite the addition of a baroque bell tower in 1704. The latter, top of four registers and surmounted by a circular pediment, contrasts with the classic door decorated with triglyphs and metopes. The screw staircase, integrated in a foothill, bears witness to architectural ingenuity combining military functionality and religious aesthetics. The building, registered with the Historical Monuments in 1970, remains a symbol of the resilience and transformation of the Aquitaine rural heritage.

Owned by the commune of Fanlac, the church now embodies a religious and defensive heritage. Its designation as the Historic Monuments in 1970 preserved its unique features, such as the 17th century bays or the commemorative bas-relief. These elements make it an essential place of memory to understand the historical dynamics of the Dordogne, between medieval conflicts and subsequent architectural adaptations.

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