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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame de Berneuil, located in the commune of Berneuil in Charente (New Aquitaine), is a religious building dating mainly from the twelfth century. It consists of a nave with transept, an apse and absidioles, topped by a square bell tower. This monument, classified by decree of 22 July 1914, illustrates the Romanesque architecture of the region, with notable decorative elements such as archvolts and blind archatures.

The western façade of the church has a historical peculiarity: its upper part, forming gable, was rebuilt in the 14th century, as was the foothills of the corner. The lower part, dating from the 12th century, preserves a richly decorated portal, flanked by two blind archatures with adorned archvolts. The tympanum of the right archature and the blind archature series above the gate testify to the local medieval craftsmanship. The building, owned by the commune, remains an emblematic example of the Poitevin religious heritage.

Two churches in France bear the name of Notre-Dame de Berneuil church: one in Charente (this one), and the other in Charente-Maritime. This homonymy is explained by the geographical distribution of places of worship dedicated to Notre Dame in the historical regions of the West. The 1914 classification underlines its heritage importance, while its location in Berneuil (code Insee 16040) makes it a cultural landmark of the former Poitou-Charentes region, now integrated into New Aquitaine.

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