Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens, located in Teyjat in Dordogne (Nouvelle-Aquitaine), has its origins in the 12th century, the period of its initial construction. Its current plan includes a flat bedside nave, supplemented to the north by a side of the same dimensions. The changes continued until the 20th century, including the reconstruction of the bell tower in 1905 (replacing a bell tower) and the addition of a sacristy in 1911. The building, vaulted in dogive crosses, houses a remarkable interior decoration, including a funeral liter decorated with the coat of arms of the Pompadour family, lords of Bourdeix from 1454 to 1740.

The frescoes discovered during restorations (2011–2012) reveal superimposed artistic strata. The oldest, a medieval Crucifixion, is partially visible behind the high altar. Two polychrome decorations from the early 18th century (including a date of 1710) adorn the choir and the Marian chapel: one depicts a Virgin in Golgotha and an extreme unction, the other of the ecclesiastical dignitaries. These paintings, classified with the church as historical monuments since 8 July 2019, illustrate the stylistic and liturgical evolution of the place.

The church also embodies local history through its funeral liter, a symbol of Pompadour's seigneurial power. The latter, influential in Périgord, marked the building with their emblem (three towers) for nearly three centuries. Recent work has helped preserve this heritage, while revealing traces of the architectural and artistic transformations between the Middle Ages and the modern era. The building remains today owned by the municipality of Teyjat.

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