Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint-Martin church of Aujac, located in the Charente-Maritime department, finds its origins in the 11th century, with a first construction followed by a major reconstruction in the 12th century (nef and northern gate). The choir, dated the 13th century, completes this medieval ensemble. From the 15th century on, the building underwent major changes, including the reconstruction of the nave walls and the partial walling of the gate, thus preserving its original Romanesque sculptures. The facade, on the other hand, rose in the 18th and 19th centuries, mixing Gothic heritage and late adaptations.

The Romanesque portal, classified as a historical monument in 2006, is distinguished by its four-rolled arch, the first of which is polylobed and the second adorned with a bearded king's head in a vault key. The capitals, historical and carved with various motifs (palmettes, monstrous heads, weighing souls), illustrate the poitevin Roman art. The unique nave, a vaulted dogives falling back on human head caps, and the flat bedside pierced with lancets or radiant reamps, bear witness to architectural evolutions over nearly eight centuries.

In 1933, a storm destroyed the structure of the bell tower, replaced by a reinforced concrete cover, marking a modern intervention in this ancient heritage. The church as a whole (excluding already classified portal) was listed as a historical monument in 2006, recognizing its heritage value. Its rectangular plan, late Gothic elements and Romanesque decorations make it a hybrid building, reflecting the stylistic transitions and the cultural needs of Aujac throughout the ages.

The church is part of the religious landscape of New Aquitaine, an area marked by a rich Romanesque and Gothic heritage. In medieval times, these buildings served as places of worship, community gathering and symbols of local power. The renovations of the 15th, 18th and 19th centuries meet practical needs (stability, enlargement) or aesthetics, while maintaining traces of earlier periods, as evidenced by the sculptures of the northern portal.

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