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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Martin de Coulaures church, located in the Dordogne department in New Aquitaine, is a Catholic religious building dating back to the twelfth century. It was erected in the heart of the village, in the centre of the old cemetery, and preserves architectural Romanesque elements such as the gate, the bell tower, the abside and the nave. These medieval parts are characterized by committed columns and capitals adorned with characters, fantastic animals and interlaces, typical of perigordin Romanesque art.

The building experienced significant expansions in the 15th and 16th centuries, with the addition of two northern chapels. The first, financed by the Duret family in the 15th century, and the second by the parish priest Colombier in the following century. These changes reflect the evolution of liturgical needs and local prosperity. The choir, rounded and partially masked by a monumental altar, houses a fresco from the 14th to 15th centuries, while the apse, raised and crenellated, also served as a watchtower, illustrating the dual defensive and spiritual role of the church at that time.

The Saint Martin church was included in the additional inventory of historic monuments by order of 12 October 1948, recognizing its heritage value. Its architecture thus combines Romanesque influences (portal in full hanger, carved capitals) and Gothic (octogonal cupola under bell tower, openings in full hanger). Major restoration works, led by architect Martine Ramat, were completed in 2016, preserving its remarkable furniture elements, such as an 18th-century altarpiece, religious paintings, and a 17th-century bell.

The furniture and stained glass of the church bear witness to its rich liturgical past. Among the classified movable objects are paintings (including La Mise au tombeau and La Descente de Croix), a 19th-century pulpit to be preached, and three tombstones. The stained glass windows, added in the 19th century during the restructuring of the facade, complete this set. Today, the church, owned by the municipality, remains open to the public and hosts classical concerts, hosted by the association Coulaures Patrimoine.

The history of the church is documented by several local sources, including the works of Canon Brugières and bulletins of the Historical and Archaeological Society of the Périgord. These writings highlight its anchoring in the religious and defensive landscape of the region, as well as its central role in the community life of Coulaures, a village known for its medieval heritage and its five castles. Its bell tower, visible from afar, also recalled its usefulness as a monitoring point in a territory marked by late Middle Ages conflicts.

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