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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Martin de Fontaines-d'Ozillac church, located in the Charente-Maritime department of New Aquitaine, is a Catholic building whose foundation dates back to the 10th-XI centuries. The present Romanesque church, dated from the 12th century, presents a composite facade combining a three-pointed Romanesque portal and Renaissance elements, such as a low door surmounted by a Saint James decor and shell. Its square bell tower, covered with a slate pyramid, does not follow any particular architectural style.

Originally, the church depended on the Benedictine abbey of Bazignes. Over the centuries, it has undergone several changes: Gothic arches have been pierced in the north wall, and a collateral has been added to the Renaissance. In 1577, it was allegedly sacked by Protestants. In the 18th century, Abbé Denis Ailhaud de Vitrolles undertook a total renovation of the interior, followed in the 19th century by decorations painted in the chapel of the choir, made by François Pillet père.

The building, classified as a historic monument in 2002, is now owned by the municipality. Its protection covers the entire church, including its mixed architectural elements, which bear witness to the stylistic and historical evolutions of the region. The facade, with its five Romanesque arches on double columns and its Renaissance additions, illustrates this heritage richness.

Available sources, such as Wikipedia and Monumentum, highlight its importance in local religious heritage. The church is located at 3 Rue Saint-Laurent, in a rural setting characteristic of Charente-Maritime, and remains an emblematic place of the architectural and spiritual history of Fontaines-d'Ozillac.

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