Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church Saint-Venant de Ballan-Miré, located in Indre-et-Loire, finds its origins in the 11th century with the construction of a Romanesque nave. According to tradition, it would have replaced a first building founded by Saint Perpet in the late fifth century, although this origin remains uncertain. The western gate, with three vestiges today devoid of decor, marks the entrance of this primitive nave, whose vault and windows were completely redone later.

In the 13th century, the church was enlarged by the addition of a square bell tower and a defence tower to the northwest, reflecting the defensive needs of the era. These changes transform the building into a religious and strategic place. A century later, in the 15th century, a side chapel was added, preparing the major changes to come.

The sixteenth century marks a turning point with ambitious works ordered by Jacques de Beaune. In 1516, the nave was raised, and a Gothic choir with a semi-octogonal apses was built, pierced by large ogival windows. Two side chapels and their semicircular apsidioles complete the whole, while Renaissance stained glass windows now adorn the bays. These arrangements, typical of the transition between Gothic and Renaissance, give the church its present character.

The bell tower, last redesigned in 1979, still houses bells over three centuries old. Ranked a historic monument in 1944, the church bears witness to almost a thousand years of history, mixing Romanesque heritage, medieval adaptations and Renaissance embellishments. Its hybrid architecture makes it a remarkable example of the Tourangeau religious heritage.

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