Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Mortemart, classified as a Historical Monument, has a composite structure marked by two major construction periods: the 13th and 18th centuries. It is characterized by a glazed nave flanked by two side chapels, while a flat-side choir closes the building. A diaphragm arch separates the nave distinctly from the choir, highlighting a spatial organization typical of medieval churches. The west facade, framed by two foothills, supports a portal surmounted by a larval resting on a quarter-round console. This portal, a remarkable architectural element, is bent on a bell tower with a pediment pierced by two campanary bays, illustrating a stylistic transition between the Gothic and classical periods.

The walls of the church reveal a duality of materials: a small regular apparatus for the oldest parts (thirteenth century), contrasting with disparate bellows used in subsequent repairs (XVth century). Outside, the south side suggests the imprint of a missing chapel, whose chamfered arch remains as a vestige. The bedside, on the other hand, incorporates the foundations of a partially preserved square bell tower, whose base forms the eastern wall. In the immediate vicinity, a modest presbytery — composed of a ground floor between two pavilions — turns its back on the bedside, separated by the former parish cemetery, which is now extinct.

The building was partially protected by order of 9 November 1984 covering its facades and roofs. Both private and communal property, its access remains subject to a request from the town hall or the presbytery. The location, although documented (address and GPS coordinates), is given an accuracy which is considered satisfactory a priori (level 7/10), reflecting the limits of available sources. Associated photographs, such as that of Father Igor under Creative Commons license, complement this visual and historical documentation.

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