Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Church of Our Lady of La Jarne, located in the village of La Jarne in New Aquitaine, is one of the oldest places of worship in Aunis, mentioned since the tenth century. It was offered in the 11th century by Elbe, Count of Châtelaillon, at the abbey of Saint-Cyprien de Poitiers, before relying on the priory of Doeuil-sur-le-Mignon, then returning to the bishop of Saintes. This monument illustrates the successive architectural transformations, with a nave enlarged in the 15th and 17th centuries and a choir rebuilt in the 18th century.

The Romanesque façade, the only vestige of the 12th century, has been classified as a historical monument since 1907. It is distinguished by its archvolt portal, its column foothills and its carved modillon cornices evoking symbolic scenes (siren, centaur, wrestlers). These elements reflect Poitevin Romanesque art and moral concerns of the time, such as the fight against vices. The current campanile, a modern addition, houses two bells.

Inside, an 18th-century altarpiece, decorated with a painting attributed to François Louis Brossard de Beaulieu, bears witness to the artistic evolution of the place. Subsequent changes (wars of Religion, enlargements) underline its central role in parish life and local political issues. Today, the façade remains the heritage jewel of this church, a symbol of the medieval and religious heritage of the region.

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