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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Church of Notre-Dame de la Purification of Preyssac-d'Excideuil, listed as a Historical Monument, has a 13th-century bell tower, typical of late Romanesque architecture. This type of structure, simple and functional, reflects the technical constraints and defensive needs of the period in the rural areas of the Périgord.

In the 15th century, a porch was added on a slightly broken arch, decorated with carved capital columns, illustrating the evolution towards the flamboyant Gothic style. The fenestration of this period, characteristic of its slender forms and decorative motifs, suggests a desire for beautification and luminous opening, peculiar to churches rebuilt or renovated after the Hundred Years' War.

The choir of the church, now gone or transformed, was probably surmounted by a second bell tower, evoking a possible dome. This hypothesis, although not confirmed by detailed archaeological sources, indicates a rare architectural complexity for a rural church. The building, registered by decree of 5 January 1948, now belongs to the commune and bears witness to the local religious and artistic history.

The location of the church, in the village of Preyssac-d'Excideuil (Dordogne), in a department marked by a rich medieval heritage, underlines its central role in community life. The churches of this region served not only as places of worship, but also as social landmarks and refuges during times of unrest, such as those that marked the late Middle Ages in Aquitaine.

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