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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint-Étienne church of Baneuil, classified as a Historical Monument, is a remarkable example of 12th century Romanesque architecture. She kept her porch in full hanger, flanked by two blind arches, while her nave was partially rebuilt. The choir, with a flat bedside, slightly exceeds the bell tower, which rests on a dome supported by a triumphal arch decorated with columns with carved capitals of birds and animals.

The official protection of the building relates specifically to the choir and bell tower on dome, inscribed by order of 12 October 1948. The nave vault, although redone, is integrated into a coherent architectural complex, typical of the rural churches of the region. The precise location, validated with an accuracy deemed satisfactory (note 7/10), places the church at 49 Rue des Tilleuls, in the village of Baneuil, in New Aquitaine.

The church, owned by the commune, illustrates the central role of religious buildings in the medieval organisation of villages. In the Romanesque period, these buildings served not only as places of worship, but also as community landmarks and symbols of local power, often linked to the seigneurie or the bishopric. Their decoration, like Baneuil's animal capitals, reflected both regional artistic influences and a desire for image catechesis for a predominantly illiterate population.

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