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Origin and history

The Saint-Christophe church of Montferrand-du-Périgord, located in the Dordogne department in New Aquitaine, is a religious building whose origins date back to at least the eleventh century. The nave, the oldest part, has a fish edge device characteristic of this period. The church was partially destroyed, including its nave, as evidenced by archives and architectural analysis comparing the tower and the current remains. Elements of the early building, such as the old Romanesque portal, were reused in the adjacent cemetery.

The murals, discovered in 1983 during renovation work, constitute an exceptional set. The oldest dates from the 11th century, while others, such as the Pantocrator Christ surrounded by the Tetramorph or an Annunciation with St.Christophius, are the late Gothic. The nave also houses narrative frescoes such as the Supper or a representation of Hell, although their interpretation is made difficult by the partial destruction of the building.

The church, until 1847, was replaced by a new building in the Bourg. Its bell tower, redesigned in the 13th and 14th centuries, served as an advanced post during the Hundred Years War. It is classified as a historical monument in 2001 and dominates the Couze Valley and retains traces of its defensive and spiritual role, especially through the monolithic lintels and modillons of its tower.

The site also served as a setting for filming, such as the series Draculi & Gandolfi (Guillaume Sanjorge). The frescoes, restored by specialists such as M. and Mme Belin, offer a rare testimony of medieval art in Périgord. Their update owes a great deal to Jean-Marc Belgarric, a mason who alerted the department departments of architecture in 1983.

The history of the church is linked to the abbey of Sarlat, then to the bishopric after its creation. The property of the abbey, including Saint-Christophe, was transferred to the bishopric. The nave, probably a victim of conflicts like the Hundred Years War, was shortened in the 19th century. Today, the building juxtaposes a nave to a span and a barlong horse-tower, illustrating its multiple transformations.

The paintings of the choir, such as the Pantocrator or the scenes of the Annunciation, coincide with more narrative themes in the nave, such as the miracle of Saint Leonard releasing a prisoner. These works, studied by experts such as Michelle Gaborit, underline the artistic and historical importance of the site, today communal property and open to the visit.

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