Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Saint-Martin de Saint-Martin-l'Astier is a Romanesque monument dating back to the Middle Ages. Its octagonal tower tower, originally attributed to the 9th century, is now dated to the 11th–12th centuries. The building has been listed as historic monuments since 1948, highlighting its heritage importance in the area.

The village of Saint-Martin-l'Astier, crossed by departmental road 3, is mentioned for the first time in 1144 under the name Sanctus Martinus de Laster. He then depended on the abbey of Saint-Astier, an influence reflected in his toponym. The name evolves over the centuries, fastening to its present form in the 14th century.

Located on the right bank of the Isle, the church is part of a landscape marked by the Double Forest and alluvial valleys. This land, rich in biodiversity, is home to protected species such as the cistude of Europe or the mink of Europe. The monument, a communal property, remains an architectural witness to medieval religious and cultural exchanges in Périgord.

The town, now rural and sparsely populated (142 inhabitants in 2023), retains traces of its agricultural and forestry past. The church, with its characteristic bell tower, dominates a territory marked by the historical floods of Isle and Grolet, rivers that shaped its history and local economy.

The site is also linked to the great hiking trail 646, which crosses the commune, linking the landscapes of the Double with the surrounding valleys. This geographical and historical context makes it an emblematic place of the religious and natural heritage of the Dordogne.

External links