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Origin and history

The parish church Saint-Michel d'Ozillac is a 12th century Romanesque building located in the southwestern part of France, in Charente-Maritime (New Aquitaine). It is distinguished by its original defensive system, which includes moat, a courtine and towers that are now abrased. According to local tradition, it was built on the site of the old castle of Ozillac, destroyed in 1652. The west facade, rebuilt after that date, incorporates defensive square turrets, while the interior was modified by the addition of Gothic chapels.

The church suffered extensive damage during the Wars of Religion, requiring restoration campaigns in the 17th and 18th centuries. In the 19th century, a square bell tower covered with slates was added. The building houses a crypt-ossuary and a painting of Calvary dating from 1785, classified as a historical monument. The collection, including its crypt, was included in the inventory of historical monuments on 5 December 2000.

Ozillac, a scattered rural community, is part of Jonzac's area of attraction. Its historically agricultural economy (82.2% of cultivated land in 2018) is marked by natural hazards such as floods (Pharaoh and Seugne rivers) and the withdrawal and swelling of clay soils. The region, with its altered ocean climate, was integrated into New Aquitaine in 2016, after belonging to the Poitou-Charentes.

Saint-Michel Church illustrates the architectural and historical evolution of the region, combining religious, defensive and community functions. Its present state is the result of successive transformations, reflecting the political and religious upheavals of Charente-Maritime, particularly the conflicts between Catholics and Protestants. The presence of an ossuary also suggests its role in managing local burials in modern times.

The painting of 1785, representing Calvary, recalls the importance of sacred art in these rural buildings. Filed in 1980, it is a testimony of pre-revolutionary devotional practices. The post-war restorations of Religion highlight the resilience of these communities, committed to preserving their heritage despite the destruction.

Today, Saint-Michel Church remains a symbol of the Ozillac heritage, linked to local figures such as the Protestant writer Armand Boisbeleau de La Chapelle (1676-1746), a native of the commune. Its hybrid architecture — Romanesque, Gothic and defensive — makes it a monument representative of the adaptations of religious buildings to the turbulent historical contexts.

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