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Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame de Monteton, located in the village of Monteton in Lot-et-Garonne, was built in the 12th century by the monks of Sarlat Abbey. The latter, the owners of a priory at Sauvetat-du-Dropt, began the deforestation of the surrounding lands to build this place of worship. The building, of Romanesque style, is distinguished by an unusual architecture: its foothills, placed inside the nave, are connected by arcades, a rare feature for the time. These foothills move 1 meter south side and 1.70 meter north side, strengthening the structure while creating an original interior space.

The church went through the centuries without suffering major damage, neither during the Hundred Years' War nor during religious wars. This preservation earned him an entry in the Inventory of Historic Monuments on January 7, 1926. Although it belongs to the Catholic community, it also hosts Anglican offices, reflecting the influence of a local British community. Its arched apse in cul-de-four, its chorus span in full-cindered cradle and its four-span nave, covered with a broken hanger cradle, illustrate Romanesque architectural techniques.

The administration of the church is now the responsibility of the municipality of Monteton, which maintains and opens it to the public. Its history, linked to the abbey of Sarlat and its role in local religious life, makes it a valuable testimony to the medieval Aquitaine heritage. Historical sources, such as Georges Tholin's work in the 19th century, underline its architectural and cultural importance in the region.

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