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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Cyr-et-Sainte-Julitte des Mathes, located in Charente-Maritime, is a Romanesque building, deeply renovated in the 19th century. Its neo-Gothic bell tower, built in 1870 by the architect Bonnet, replaces a former campanile and houses two notable bells: a small bell of 1788 classified as a historical monument for ringing the revolt of 1789, and a large bell of 500 kg offered by Napoleon III in 1868. The interior, covered with a vaulted vault, preserves 17th century baptismal fonts, remains of the missing chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Buze.

The church is mentioned for the first time in 1043 as a dependency of the abbey of Vaux. During the Revolution (1789-1794), it became a national good and served as a hall of feasts before it was restored to worship in 1802. In the 19th century, several restorations transformed the building: partial reconstruction in 1671, addition of two lateral chapels forming a Latin cross, and addition of sacristies in 1911. The choir houses statues dedicated to the patron saints Cyr and Julitte, as well as Saint Joseph and the Virgin.

The bell tower, supported by eight foothills and surmounted by a stone arrow, is a remarkable example of neo-Gothic architecture. It houses a fondue bell at Rochefort in 1868, offered by Napoleon III in recognition of the hospitality extended to his uncle, King Joseph, in 1815. The small bell of 1788, melted by Cornillon de Saintes, bears inscriptions and flowers of lilies, testimony of its historical role. These elements, combined with the baptismal fonts classified in 2013, make this church a place full of memory.

The building, dedicated to Saint Cyr (three-year-old Martyr in 304) and his mother Saint Julitte, illustrates the architectural and religious evolution of the region. The successive restorations (1975 for the outside, 1984 for the interior, 2002 for the bell tower) preserved its heritage, while adapting the church to modern cultural needs. Today, it belongs to the Dean of Marennes-Oléron and the pastoral sector of the Presqu'île d'Arvert, continuing its central role in the local community.

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