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Origin and history

The church of Saint Peter of Bonneuil, located in the present New Aquitaine (former diocese of Saints), was built at the hinge of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. It probably replaced an older building and initially retained a Latin cross plan, with a single vaulted nave in full hanger and a straight bedside. Double arcs, supported by round columns backed by pilasters, and lateral arcs with broken arcs reflect stylistic transitions of the era. The sculpted capitals, especially those of the western four-piece portal, illustrate a neat craft, typical of regional workshops.

In the 15th century, a seigneurial chapel was added to the north, probably linked to the lords of Breuilh Castle, whose construction dates back to the early 16th century. The southern cruise, vaulted on four veins, dates back to the 14th century. A drama occurred in 1845 with the collapse of the bell tower, destroying the dome of the transept and the vault of the choir. This event led to the partial abandonment of the building and successive restorations in 1847 (under steeple) and in 1893. The western facade, the only element protected by decree of 21 June 1952, today bears witness to this turbulent past.

The church, a communal property, preserves traces of its architectural evolution: vaults with veins and liernes in the north crusillon, crypt inaccessible under the old choir, and twin columns surrounding the gate. These details, combined with 19th century restorations, offer a palimpsest of medieval and modern constructive techniques. Local tradition closely links the monument to the feudal history of Bonneuil, although the archives are lacking to specify the original sponsors or the exact uses of the crypt.

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