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Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame de Courcôme, located in the Charente department, is a religious building whose origins date back to the High Middle Ages. Originally owned by the Abbey of Saint-Martin de Tours around 831, it then passed under the domination of the Count of Poitiers and then of the Duke of Aquitaine. At the end of the 10th century, William II Fier at Bras, Duke of Aquitaine, gave up the church and its lands to the abbey of Saint-Hilaire de Poitiers. This monument, marked by several reconstructions, today retains major architectural elements of the 11th, 12th and 15th centuries.

The construction of the present parish church began in the 11th century, replacing a primitive building of which only the north wall of the nave remains. A fire in the early 12th century led to a major reconstruction, with the addition of cradle vaults and carved capitals, characteristic of Romanesque art. Croisillons and apsidioles are added in later phases, always in the Romanesque era. In the 15th century, a low side was built to respond to the growth of the parish community, partially modifying the initial structure.

Ranked a historic monument by decree of 2 August 1881, the church of Notre-Dame de Courcôme was significantly restored between 1885 and 1895. In particular, these works help to solve structural disorders by removing the Gothic vaults and restoring the conbution of the Romanesque vaults. The building is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, in her Assumption, and houses a 13th century Virgin with the Child in her southern apsidiole. Its square bell tower, overtaking an octagonal dome, and its facade decorated with remarkable capitals and modillons, make it an emblematic example of Romanesque architecture in New Aquitaine.

The church is particularly famous for its 40 Romanesque capitals of the 11th and 12th centuries, whose symbolic sculptures have been studied and debated since the beginning of the 20th century. These artistic elements, combined with its complex medieval history, underline the heritage importance of this monument. Today, the Church of Notre-Dame de Courcôme remains a major witness to the art and religious history of the region, while continuing to attract the attention of historians and visitors.

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