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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Hilaire de Nonac is a Catholic religious building located in the department of Charente, New Aquitaine. Built in the 12th century, it is a typical example of the Romanesque architecture of the region, with a vaulted nave in a cradle, double arches and carved capitals. The bases of the columns are no longer visible because of the increase of the soil over the centuries. Traces of medieval frescoes still remain on the walls, the capitals and the arches of the windows, testifying to the original decorative richness.

At the heart of the building, four massive pillars, consisting of carved capital columns, support a dome in the middle of the hanger on which the bell tower rests, added later. The apse and apsidioles of the transept are arched in cul-de-four. A crypt, accessible by a staircase located in the nave, also preserves frescoes on its background. The upper part of the church, including the vaults, was entirely rebuilt in bricks and plastered at the end of the 19th century, partially changing its original appearance.

The church houses a bronze bell named Jesus Maria, melted in 1641 and weighing 640 kg. This bell, restored in 2013 by Campanists Bodet, was solemnly rested on 12 December 2013 in the presence of Father Fèvre, who blessed her, and Martine Gallais, then Mayor of Nonac. The building was classified as historic monuments by order of September 4, 1913, recognizing its exceptional heritage value.

The location of the church, at 1 Rue du Cèdre in Nonac, is documented in the Mérimée database under the code Insee 16246. Although the accuracy of GPS coordinates is considered poor (level 5/10), the building remains a central point of local heritage, managed by the municipality. Its history reflects both medieval architectural developments and modern restorations aimed at preserving its heritage.

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