Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

Saint-Rémy Church, located in Sainte-Ramee, Charente-Maritime, is a Catholic religious building dating back to the twelfth century. Until the 19th century, its Romanesque façade was considered one of the most remarkable of Saintonge, adorned with a gate in the middle of the hangar, columns and a gallery of arches. These decorative elements, including carved models (pork and goat masks, human heads), symbolized moral lessons against gluttony and lust. The facade, damaged by weather and negligence, was demolished in 1954 and replaced by a sober wall, retaining only five modillons.

The church bedside, devoid of decoration, contrasts with the bell tower, which bears traces of three canonial dials probably dating from the twelfth or thirteenth centuries. These primitive sundials, engraved on the south wall, bear witness to medieval liturgical practices. Inside, the unique nave, covered with a structure, leads to a sanctuary separated by a triumphal arch decorated with two historic capitals. These sculptures, mainly visible by the clergy, illustrate moral rather than biblical themes, reflecting the concerns of the Gregorian reform.

The northern capital represents three winged dragons with hybrid characteristics (horse head, fish scales, snake tail), seeming to interact peacefully. The one from the south shows a demon vomiting rinceaux, tying a naked woman holding a snake and a partially preserved man, perhaps symbolizing temptation and sin of flesh. These representations, partially hammered, highlight the spiritual issues of the time, such as the imposition of priestly celibacy.

Among the notable furniture, a 16th century gold copper procession cross, classified as a historic monument in 1991, is distinguished by its flordelized motifs and the symbols of the four evangelists (tetramorphic). A window of the apse, the work of master glassmaker Louis-Victor Gesta, completes this artistic ensemble. These elements illustrate the evolution of local religious heritage, between Romanesque heritage and later additions.

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