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Origin and history

Saint-Aignan de Saint-Aignan church, located in the Gironde department in New Aquitaine, has its origins in the 11th century, although its current structure is mostly marked by 12th century changes. At that time, an apse in hemicycle, adorned with blind archatures and committed columns, was added to the early nave. The sanctuary, vaulted in cul-de-four, is separated from the nave by a large arcade in the middle, characteristic of Romanesque art. The vegetal-decorated capitals and cornice modillons bear witness to this period, while the choir walls were once covered with frescoes, some of which, dating from the 14th century, were rediscovered in 1989.

At the beginning of the 16th century, an ogival porch was erected in front of the church, supported by four stone pillars, two of which feature flamboyant Gothic ornaments. The bell tower, originally built as a defensive element, was fortified in 1687 during the Wars of Religion, with slots subsequently transformed to accommodate the bells. This duality between religious and military functions illustrates the tensions of the time.

The current stained glass windows, made between the 19th century and 1893, come from the Bordeaux workshops Lieuzère and Gustave Pierre Dagrant. They depict biblical scenes (Tetramorphic, Christ in majesty) and episodes of the life of Saint Aignan, patron saint of the church. Nearby, a 16th century cemetery cross, carved of holy figures including St. Aignan and St. Peter, recalls the spiritual anchoring of the place. The church bedside has been a historic monument since 1925, highlighting its heritage value.

The frescoes of the abside, dated from the second half of the 14th century, reveal scenes such as Saint Michael terrorizing the dragon and Christ in majesty, surrounded by fragments of angels and apostles. These paintings, together with stained glass and the cross, form a coherent iconographic ensemble, reflecting the artistic and devotional evolution of the site over nearly nine centuries.

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