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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Maurice, located in Prats-du-Périgord, Dordogne, is mentioned for the first time in 1053, then confirmed in its rights by a papal bubble of Eugene III in 1153. Originally named Santa Maria de Pratis, it depended on the abbey of Sarlat before being dedicated to Saint Maurice. Its location on the road between Domme and Villefranche-du-Périgord exposed it to looting, pushing the inhabitants to erect an imposing bell tower with four bays and a defense chamber above the apse.

During the wars of religion, the church suffered considerable damage: looted by Protestant bands, it was described in 1651 as "in a sad state", stripped of all its objects of worship. The repairs were supervised by Antoine Laporte, parish priest and royal notary, while Jean Laporte, another notary, left funds for his restoration. In 1766, new works were financed by a legacy of the parish priest Raymond Maleville. The building, marked by its raised bedside and a murderer, suggests an origin linked to a commandery of the order of Saint John.

Ranked a historic monument in 1948, the church preserves traces of its defensive past, such as the chapels of the arched transept, after the initial construction. Its bell tower, partially supported by the nave, illustrates the architectural adaptations associated with local conflicts. The archives also mention its role in community life, especially through the donations of local notables for its preservation.

Today, the church of Saint-Maurice remains a testimony of the exchanges between religious power and defensive needs in Périgord, reflecting the turbulences of the 12th–13th centuries and the wars of religion. Its hybrid architecture, both religious and military, makes it a rare example of the perigordin buildings of that time.

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