Church of Our Lady à Peujard en Gironde

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Church of Our Lady of Peupjard, originally dedicated to Saint Martin before being placed under the name of Notre Dame, finds its origins in the 11th century, with a construction largely completed in the 12th century. Its architecture combines Romanesque and Gothic influences, as evidenced by its Saintongeese portal adorned with yousures and its bell tower resting on the second eastern span. At that time, the building had an un vaulted nave, partially completed, and a dome inspired by Saintongese models, such as Marignac's. The interior supports, composed of pilasters with engaged columns, bear capitals carved of foliage or geometric motifs.

In the 13th century, a rectangular bedside was added, marking the transition to late Gothic. A north side, corresponding to the three eastern spans, is also built, suggesting that the original Romanesque church was shorter. The Wars of Religion (XVI century) turned the bell tower into a defensive work: niches, mâchicoulis and scauguettes were added, while the top of the walls was creneled. These changes reflect the religious tensions of the time, where the cult buildings became fortified refuges.

The following centuries saw ad hoc arrangements: minor repairs in 1623 (the church door), redevelopment of baptismal fonts in the 18th century, and installation of a bumblebee in 1874. In 1835, two pillars supporting vaults and bell tower were rebuilt, revealing structural fragility. The facade and interior were restored at the end of the 19th century under the direction of Léon Drouyn, a regional architect known for his work on the Aquitaine heritage. The church now houses a baroque altarpiece, an 18th century painting (The Baptism of Christ), and two canonial dials engraved in the southern wall, medieval liturgical tools.

Listed as a historic monument on 1 December 1908, the Church of Notre-Dame is inseparable from the former priory, whose remains remain. Its history illustrates architectural evolutions (Roman → Gothic), defensive adaptations, and modern restorations, while preserving rare liturgical elements such as sundials. Its bell tower, symbol of religious tensions, and its interior decorations (chapitals, dome) make it a major testimony of the girondin heritage.

The location of the building, south of the village of Peupjard on the D115 departmental road, makes it a historical landmark in the Blayese country. His adoration with a former priory underlines his central role in medieval religious and community life, between worship, defense and seigneurial organization. The factory accounts, mentioning repairs, reveal a collective management of the building by parishioners, typical of rural churches under the Old Regime.

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