Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Notre-Dame de Chasseignes church, located in Mouterre-Silly, New Aquitaine, is an emblematic monument to Romanesque churches in northern Poitou. Built between the 11th and 15th centuries, it is distinguished by its sober single-nave plan, separated from a choir with a semi-circular apse by a lantern tower. The interior, very partitioned, reflects austere architecture, while the facade retains this simplicity characteristic of the Poitevin Romanesque style. The building owes its interest to the quality of its early Romanesque sculpture, as well as to subsequent additions in Gothic and classical style, reflecting an architectural evolution over centuries.

The protection of the church, classified in full by order of 27 October 2014, also includes the soil of its plot and associated archaeological remains. A study report by Géraldine Fray in 2021 highlighted the painted decorations and retables, highlighting the rich heritage of this place. Owned by the municipality of Mouterre-Silly (Vienna department, code Insee 86173), the church illustrates the central role of religious buildings in the social and spiritual organization of the Poitevin countryside, from the Middle Ages to the modern era.

The architecture of Notre-Dame de Chasseignes is part of a regional context marked by the influence of the Poitou's Romanesque workshops, known for their mastery of carved stone. Gothic additions, probably made between the 13th and 15th centuries, reveal an adaptation to stylistic evolutions, while classical elements may date back to periods of restoration or beautification. The location of the church, noted as "passable" (level 5/10) in the documentary bases, does not alter its historical value, reinforced by its classification as Historical Monuments.

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