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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Martin de Touchay church, located in the municipality of the same name, dates mainly from the second half of the 15th century. It consists of a nave covered by an apparent structure, a square bedside choir arched in warhead, and two side chapels. The one of the south, vaulted in a cradle full hanger, would have been added in the sixteenth century by the lords of the Châtre, the local noble family. The stained glass windows of this chapel still retain original fragments of this time.

The present façade, topped by a tower in frame, was rebuilt in 1860, marking a major 19th century intervention. The building, classified as a Historical Monument since 1926, thus illustrates a superimposition of architectural styles, combining late Gothic (15th to 16th centuries) and 19th century additions. The apparent structure of the nave and the ogival vaults of the choir are a characteristic example of the rural churches of the region.

Owned by the commune of Touchay, the church preserves furniture and decorative elements bearing witness to its evolution, such as the partial windows of the sixteenth century. Its simple plan, with unique nave and lateral chapels, reflects the liturgical needs of a rural parish in the Centre-Val de Loire, an area marked by a dense but often modest religious heritage. The inclusion in the inventory of Historic Monuments in 1926 allowed its preservation, although its exact location remains approximate (precision estimated at 6/10).

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