Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Barthélemy de Salles-de-Cadouin was originally the hermitage of Géraud de Salles, founder and first Abbé of Cadouin. At the end of the 11th or early 12th century, a small church was built to replace this hermitage. The building, probably damaged during the Hundred Years' War, was partially rebuilt: the nave was rebuilt and raised, both fortified to meet the defensive needs of the time.

Church architecture reveals traces of its evolution. Originally vaulted in stone, it now has a wooden ceiling. Its triumphal arch rests on columns with capitals decorated with various motifs (animals, sirens). The choir, surrounded by seven blind arches with full arches, presents carved columns with capitals (foils, interlaces, human heads). These decorative elements testify to a neat craft, typical of Romanesque art.

In the 14th century, the whole was raised and strengthened, especially at bedside level, reflecting the tensions of the era. The gate was protected by a mâchicoulis, and clues (rectangular opening, bolts) suggest the existence of a defence chamber near the south wall. These military developments illustrate the adaptation of places of worship to medieval conflicts, while maintaining their religious vocation.

Classified as a Historical Monument since 1974, the church now belongs to the municipality. Its history thus combines spirituality, Romanesque art and defensive architecture, offering a tangible testimony to the upheavals of the Middle Ages in Périgord.

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