Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Maixent de Verrines, located in Celles-sur-Belle, is a Romanesque building built in the Middle Ages. Today only the choir and the transept remain, the nave having been destroyed during the Revolution. The church is distinguished by its semi-circular bedside, its square bell tower above the cross of the transept, and a circular staircase turret. Inside, there are 28 capitals with a variety of backgrounds: plants, real or fantastic animals, religious symbols and historiated scenes. The blanket, mostly in flat stone, contrasts with the bell tower slate.

An act of 1078 attests to the donation of the church and land to the monks of the Abbey of Saint-Maixent, although its exact origin remains unknown. Several significant events mark its history: a fire in 1569 ravages part of the building, requiring repairs reported in 16th and 17th century minutes. In 1734, architect Pierre Bellat supervised restoration works with local artisans. The Revolution transformed its status: sold as a national property in 1797, it was bought by Jean Beauchamp before being classified as a Historic Monument in 1840.

In the 19th century, the church changed hands several times: acquired by Charles Pontonnier de la Girardière in 1846, it was ceded to the Verrines factory council and sold to the commune in 1998 by the Diocesan association of Poitiers. The adjacent, partially preserved, prioral dwelling probably dates back to the 16th century, while other buildings date back to the 19th century. Historic capitals and Romanesque vestiges make this a valuable testimony of medieval art in Poitou-Charentes.

External links