Church of Our Lady of Shabrac à Chabrac en Charente

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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church Notre-Dame de Chabrac is a Romanesque building built in the 12th century, located in the commune of Chabrac, Charente. Its architecture is characterized by a rectangular plan and flat bedside, typical of the Romanesque style. The vaults, redone in bricks, contrast with the vault on the ribs of the choir, supported by 13th century columns, added later. The western facade is decorated with a three-piece portal, a remarkable element of its original decor.

Fortified during the Hundred Years' War and then during the Wars of Religion, the church illustrates the frequent defensive adaptations in the religious monuments of this region during these troubled periods. The building, inscribed in the Historical Monuments by order of 16 June 1965, now belongs to the commune of Chabrac. Its state of conservation and its location, specified as "a priori satisfactory" (note 8/10), make it a notable architectural and historical testimony of New Aquitaine.

The site, still communal property, preserves traces of its successive transformations, such as brick vaults and Gothic elements of the choir. Although the sources do not specify its current use (visits, cultural, etc.), its listing as Historic Monuments underscores its heritage importance. The available coordinates (3 Route de Limoges, 16150 Chabrac) and its Insee code (16071) confirm its anchoring in the Charente department, in the former region Poitou-Charentes.

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