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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Sauveur church, originally dedicated to St.Madeleine, was founded in 1152 by the monks of the Isle of Aix, on the order of Pope Eugene III. Built in a parish in 1217, it was destroyed by fire in 1419 and rebuilt in a Gothic style until 1492. Its richly decorated portal and bell tower – preserved for military utility – bear witness to this period. During the Wars of Religion, the building was looted in 1568 by Protestants, who used its stones to strengthen the city's fortifications. Only the bell tower, transformed into a watchtower, escaped destruction.

After the victory of Louis XIII in 1628, the Catholic cult was restored, and a third church was built between 1652 and 1679, with a classical facade dated 1679. A fire in 1705 ravaged the building again, leaving only this facade intact. The reconstruction, carried out from 1708 to 1718, raised the nave to 18 metres and included baroque elements, such as the marble high altar of Carrara (1774). During the Revolution, the church served as a military warehouse before being reopened in 1802.

In the 19th century, urgent work was undertaken to save the building, threatened by the collapse of the vaults and humidity. The sacristy, built on the remains of the old Maubec Gate (12th century), was restored in Gothic Revival style in 1892. Between 1995 and 2008, a major renovation (3 million euros) consolidated the structures, restored the interior and exterior decorations, and brought to light the frescoes of the eighteenth century. Today, the church, partially classified as historical monuments, hosts cults, concerts and exhibitions.

The bell tower, 42 meters high, is the last medieval vestige. He carried the stigmas of the seats of 1573 and 1627-1628, with impacts of balls and an openwork balustrade. His two bells, Gabrielle Paule (1720) and Victoire Louise (1852), were classified. The sacristy, integrated with the old Maubec gate, recalls the military history of La Rochelle. The church also houses classified paintings (XVIIth–XIXth centuries) and an organ attested since 1538.

A place of memory linked to New France, Saint-Sauveur saw many migrants leaving for Canada. An altar in the south nave commemorates these transatlantic ties. Its architecture thus mixes Gothic (ddogive vaults of the choir), classical (Corinthian facade) and neo-Gothic (sacristy), reflecting successive reconstructions after religious and military destruction.

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