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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Martin-de-Noizé, located in the Deux-Sèvres department in the associated commune of Noizé (Oiron), is a religious building dating back to the 10th and 11th centuries, with architectural elements dating from the 12th century. Isolated in the countryside about 500 metres from the village, it is attached to a cemetery and, according to the local legend, has been spared after an epidemic of black plague which would have ravaged the neighbouring village, causing the destruction of the houses by sanitary measure. Its current isolation could be the direct consequence.

Classified as a historical monument by decree of 7 December 1976, this church is also linked to the history of medieval pilgrimages. Close to an ancient Roman road linking Poitiers to Nantes, it served as a "church-stage" on the way to Saint-Hilaire, welcoming travelers for the night. Its architecture blends Romanesque features, such as an openworked square bell tower topped by a pine apple-shaped stone cone, and a unique nave separated from the choir by an arcade wall. A bas-relief adorns the central arcade, while 17th century funerary slabs cover the ground.

Local tradition attributes its foundation to St.Martin, who allegedly Christianized a pagan temple on this site. The building would then have belonged to a priory attached to Bourgueil Abbey. To the west, a porch covered with a frame rests on four square pillars, adorning with a nave. The bell tower, pierced by arches on each side and surmounted by skylights, is a remarkable example of rural religious architecture in the region. The east and west sides have two arcades, while the north and south sides have only one.

The Church of Saint Martin de Noizé thus illustrates both the Poitevin Romanesque heritage, the local hagiographic legends and the role of religious buildings in welcoming pilgrims in the Middle Ages. Its classification in 1976 underscores its heritage value, both for its history and for its architectural peculiarities, such as the pine apple bell tower or inner funerary slabs.

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