Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Preyssac-d'Agonac, located in the hamlet of Preyssac on the commune of Château-l'Évêque (Dordogne), is a religious building of Romanesque origin built in the 12th century. Its architecture illustrates the transition between the cradle vault and the dome lines, characteristic of the period. The western façade, in Saintongese style, and the chapels added in the 16th and 19th centuries testify to its architectural evolution over the centuries.

The church suffered damage during the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion, reflecting the historical turmoil of the region. Disused since 1958, it was completely restored and inaugurated in 2011 after ten years of work. Its classification as historical monuments, first partial in 1948 and then total in 2003, underscores its heritage importance.

Among the remarkable elements, the northern chapel houses the tombstone of Jean-François Du Cluzel (1695–1882), local lord and former Musketeer of King Louis XV. The epitaph, dated 1782, celebrates its virtues and its commitment to the village's poor. This human detail adds a historical and social dimension to this religious monument.

The building, owned by the municipality, is now fully protected, including its Romanesque structure, Gothic extensions and furniture. Its history reflects both architectural developments, regional conflicts and local piety throughout the centuries.

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