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Origin and history

The Romanesque church of Saint-Martin-de-Corconac, located in L'Estréchure (Gard, Occitanie), finds its origins in the 12th century, with a first written mention of the parish in 1197. Its architecture reveals two phases of construction: a primitive Romanesque part (west facade, walled door, north wall) and a Gothic extension of the 14th century, including a parallel nave, an enlarged choir and two chapels forming transept. The building, in shale with clear sandstone elements, features arch vaults and a pentagonal choir rare in the area.

The church played a central role during the Wars of Religion: in the seventeenth century, the parish, entirely Protestant, used the building for its cults despite the royal prohibitions. In 1702, during the War of the Camisards, the priory and the presbytery were burned by the troops of Salomon Couderc, but the church, spared by Abraham Mazel (who saved the priest Vedel), survived with limited damage. The minutes of 1702-1703 describe internal damage without affecting the vaulted structure.

In the 19th century, the church, which became the parish centre of Saumane and Saint-Martin, was abandoned in 1840 for the benefit of Saumane. Sold in 1934 to an individual for 100 francs due to his deplorable condition, it changed hands several times before being bought in 2011 by Michel Pagès. The latter created the SMAC association for its restoration, resulting in its inclusion in the Supplementary Inventory of Historic Monuments in 2012. The building preserves traces of medieval fortifications, evoked in 14th century feudal tributes.

The hybrid architecture of Saint-Martin-de-Corconac reflects its turbulent history: the oldest north nave could be a revamped defence tower, while the south nave and the semi-octogonal choir date back to the 14th and 15th centuries. The Romanesque portal, the trilobed bays and the arch vaults testify to successive stylistic influences. The communal coat of arms, from Azure to Saint Martin on a golden horse, recalls its status as a medieval parish.

The archival sources (cartulars of Saint-Victor de Marseille, feudal tributes, parish registers) reveal an ancient parish, mentioned in 1079 for Saumane (linked to Saint-Martin) and officially attested in 1197. The toponym Corconac would derive from a Roman domain (Curconnacus), highlighting an ancient occupation. Religious conflicts (Religion wars, Camisards) and architectural transformations marked its evolution, making this site a key witness to the Cevenol heritage.

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