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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of St. Peter of Jarnac, Romanesque architecture, was initially a priory dependent on the Abbey of St. Cybard of Angoulême from the 8th century. It was occupied successively by Benedictine monks and then Augustine canons in the 9th century, and experienced a marked decline in the 15th century. Preroman remains remain in the walls of the nave, while a Romanesque facade was built in the 12th century, later replaced by a neo-Roman elevation.

In the 13th century, the church was enriched with a square crypt and a flat-side choir, while its Romanesque bell tower was enhanced. Damaged by fire in 1562 during the Wars of Religion, it was restored in the 17th century, with the addition of a northern chapel. The nave, recast in bricks in 1847-1849, and the choir, restored by architect Demenieux, illustrate the major transformations of the 19th century. A southern chapel and a sacristy were added in 1874-1875.

The crypt Saint-Michel, classified as a historical monument in 1945, served as a burial place for the lords of Jarnac, including the Chabot family from the 15th century. It preserves murals and a vaulted structure divided into four compartments. The bell tower, inscribed in 1992, and the brick vaults of the nave testify to the various constructive techniques used over the centuries.

The church remains an active place of worship, attached to the diocese of Angoulême, with Sunday Masses and concerts on its 19th century German organ. It has historical ties with the local Protestant community, heiress of the 16th century Huguenots, reflecting religious coexistence in Charente. François Mitterrand, born in Jarnac, was baptized there in 1917 and his funeral was celebrated there in 1996.

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