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Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Martin de Pauillac, located in Place du Maréchal Foch, was built between 1824 and 1829 by the Bordeaux architect Armand Corcelles, known for the Chartrons temple in Bordeaux. It replaces an old church, built on the remains of a Gallo-Roman villa. The materials of the old church and that of Saint-Mambert de Rignac were reused. A document kept in sacristy states that the works, led by the entrepreneur Mr. Escarraguel, were initiated by the parish priest Bertrand Murat, after the prohibition of worship in the previous building in 1823. The church was opened to worship on 16 May 1828, the day of Ascension.

In 2013, a storm destroyed its dome, projected at 50 meters. It was reconstructed identically and resettled in 2018. His bell tower, painted in white in 1845 at the request of pilots and lamaneurs, served as a maritime landmark for boats in the Gironde estuary. This link with the sea is also illustrated by the ex-voto du Saint-Clément, a votive boat offered in 1836 by local sailors, suspended in the nave.

The architecture combines neoclassicism and baroque: the western facade, adorned with doric pilasters and a Greek pediment, contrasts with the baroque choir in white marble, surmounted by a half cupola. The organ buffet and wooden chair, typical of the 19th century, complete this set. The masonries, in coated stone-like stone, reflect the construction techniques of the time.

The church is listed in the General Inventory of Cultural Heritage, highlighting its historical and architectural importance. Its role in local life, both religious and maritime, makes it a symbol of Pauillac, between vineyards of the Médoc and the Gironde estuary.

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