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Origin and history

The Saint-Martin church of Allas-Bocage, located in the Charente-Maritime department in New Aquitaine, is a monument dating back to the twelfth century. From this Romanesque period the bedside and the facade remain today, although the latter was modified during the rise of the nave in the fourteenth century. A primitive bell tower, probably square, existed in the Romanesque period between the nave and the choir, as evidenced by a square tower pierced by murderers, still visible on the south wall. This old bell tower, accessible by a staircase integrated in this tower, has left room for a campanile whose construction could date back to the seventeenth century.

Inside, the building has a unique nave without transept, characteristic of small rural churches. The choir, finished with a cul-de-four, retained part of the "false square" that supported the old bell tower. The Romanesque capitals, decorated with mythical or real animals in an orientalizing style, illustrate the influence of saintly sculpture. The plaster vault, added in the 19th century, marks one of the last major transformations of the building. Two expiatory chapels, mentioned in the 19th century, have now disappeared. The church, owned by the commune, has been listed as historical monuments since 31 December 1986.

The monument reflects the architectural and religious developments of the region, from its medieval origin to its modern amenities. His Romanesque bedside and defensive elements recall his central role in the parish, formerly attached to the diocese of Saintes. The successive changes, such as the Gothic elevation or the addition of the campanile, bear witness to functional and aesthetic adaptations over the centuries. Today, the church remains a representative example of Saintongese religious heritage, mixing medieval heritage and later transformations.

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