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Origin and history

The Church of St Martin of St Martin of Crau finds its origins in a primitive church mentioned in the tenth century under the name of Sanctus Martinus of palude majori. In 1052, it was granted to the canons of Arles by Guillaume, Viscount of Marseilles, then given to the chapter of Saint-Trophime in 1061. Backed by a Romanesque watch tower, it was considered too small in 1624 to accommodate parishioners, triggering a conflict over its financing. Despite local reluctance, a sentence on the senate floor of Arles in 1625 imposed its reconstruction, completed around 1638 with the addition of a bell tower on the old tower.

The new church, active in 1638, became a central place for the 800 inhabitants of the parish in 1790, before being transformed into a revolutionary club in 1791. In the 19th century, its condition deteriorated, leading to the construction of the current building between 1869 and 1876 in a neo-Roman style, perpendicular to the old foundations. Part of the old buildings is reused for the sacristy and lodging of priests.

Major renovation campaigns are undertaken by the municipality: in 1992, the bell tower (former guard tower) was restored and equipped with an orientation table; In 1995, the façade, stained glass and nave were rehabilitated, followed in 2008 by the renovation of the floor and watertightness, with the preservation of the original tomettes. The church remains a testimony of the architectural and religious evolutions of the region, linked to the archdiocese of Aix-en-Provence and Arles.

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