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Origin and history

The church Saint-Michel de Saint-Michel in Charente is a Romanesque building built in the 12th century, more precisely in 1137. It was founded by the Abbé de La Couronne as a refuge for pilgrims travelling to Santiago de Compostela, as well as for the faithful in search of the relics of Saint Eutrope at Saintes. Its octagonal architecture, surrounded by eight apsidioles, is characteristic of this period.

The church was classified as a Historical Monument in 1840, but its vault collapsed in the 17th century, probably due to the wars of Religion. It was restored between 1848 and 1853 by the architect Paul Abadie, who reconstructed the dome and the high bays according to his interpretations of the Romanesque style. The tympanum of the portal depicts St. Michael terrorizing the dragon, an emblematic motif.

Saint-Michel, a commune to the west of Angoulême, was a strategic crossing point for pilgrims and travellers. The church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the poor of Christ, played a central role in the religious and social life of the region. In the 19th century, it was confused with a relay of pilgrims today disappeared, strengthening its historical reputation.

The village, crossed by the Charente and close to Angoulême, experienced an industrial boom with paper mills from the 17th century. These economic activities, combined with the presence of the church, made Saint-Michel a spiritual and dynamic place, marked by its architectural heritage and medieval history.

The current bell tower, erected at the beginning of the 20th century, replaces a first bell tower built in 1898. The church, owned by the commune, remains a symbol of the rich Romanesque and religious past of the Charente, while at the same time bearing witness to the architectural and social changes that have taken place over the centuries.

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