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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

In 1029 the church of Saint-Martin d'Esnandes, mentioned for the first time in 990 in a cartular of the abbey of Saint-Cyprien de Poitiers, became an outbuilding of the abbey of Saint-Jean-d-Angely. In the 12th century, donations allowed its reconstruction, marked by a sculpted Romanesque portal. The building, located on the edge of the Gulf of Pictons (now Poitevin Marais), is then a priory under monastic influence.

In the 14th and 15th centuries, facing English threats during the Hundred Years' War and raids of privateers (like that of 1293), the church was transformed into a fortress. Its walls are thickened up to 3 meters, the bays obstructed, and a crenelated round path is added. A ditch surrounds the building, making this church a strategic Catholic bastion against Protestant or English incursions, especially to protect access to La Rochelle.

The Wars of Religion (16th century) marked a violent turning point: in 1568, the church was looted by Protestants, and in 1622, the Conseil de La Rochelle ordered its destruction, partially carried out for lack of means. Reconstruction began in 1629, with dates engraved on the pillars (1629-1632) and the bell tower (1633), sometimes using wrecked wood. The vaults were rebuilt between 1694 and 1720, and major restorations took place in the 19th century (classification in 1840, works from 1880 to 1996).

The architecture today combines a Romanesque façade of the 12th century, medieval fortifications (mâchicoulis, scauguettes), and an 18th century furniture classified as a pulpit of 1775. The site offers a panoramic view of the Bay of Aiguillon and the Poitevin Marais, highlighting its historical role of monitoring and resistance.

The priory Saint-Martin, linked to the abbey of Saint-Jean-d The building, both a place of worship and a strong place, embodies the religious and military tensions that marked Aunis and the Poitou of the Middle Ages in modern times.

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