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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame d'Aulnay, located in the commune of Aulnay in Charente-Maritime (New Aquitaine), is a religious building whose construction spans two major periods: the 12th century and the 15th century. It is distinguished by a unique nave architecture, complemented by a richly decorated choir and apse, typical of Saintonge's Romanesque art. The west facade, pierced by a two-archvolt door resting on pieddroits and columns, is surmounted by a sculpted cord representing water leaves and allegorical animals, showing remarkable artistic know-how for the time.

Inside, the entrance to the sanctuary and the opening of the choir are marked by columns and groups of columns supporting carved capitals, characteristic elements of Romanesque architecture. The apse, vaulted in half cupola, and the choir, in cradle, illustrate the mastery of medieval vaulting techniques. A side chapel, added in the 16th century, presents a Gothic style with arched arches and formets, reflecting the evolution of architectural styles over the centuries. The building, classified as Historic Monument by decree of 22 October 1913, now belongs to the commune.

Notre-Dame d'Aulnay Church is part of a historical context where religious buildings played a central role in community life, serving as both a place of worship, a gathering and a symbol of the spiritual and temporal power of the Church. In the region of Saintonge, marked by a high density of Romanesque churches, these monuments were often stages on pilgrimage paths, such as that of Santiago de Compostela, thus contributing to local cultural and artistic outreach.

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