Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint Martin de Chas, mentioned since 990 as dependent on the priory of Sauxillanges, is a historical monument with various architectural influences. It was attached to the Priory of Saint-Caffre until 1789. Its architecture combines a Romanesque nave with a broken cradle arch, a semicircular choir vaulted in cul-de-four, and a southern lateral chapel. Two cylindrical pillars with Romanesque capitals adorn the back of the nave, while a round turret with a spiral staircase on the west wall.

The western gate, with a broken arch and three windows, is preceded by a porch of the 4th quarter of the 16th century (dated 1588 by a carved arch key). The square bell tower, overtaking the last span, has arched groined bays in the middle of the hanger resting on columns. Inside, a tube dome covers space. The adjacent cemetery, with its presumed ossuary, emphasizes the funeral and community role of the building.

Classified as a Historic Monument in 2013, the church preserves protected furniture such as baptismal fonts and altars. The architect Hugues Imbert contributed, although his precise interventions are not detailed. The approximate location (level 5/10 precision) and communal property make it an accessible local heritage, anchored in the religious and social history of Chas since the Middle Ages.

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