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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Maurice-de-Mairé d'Aiffres, located in Les Deux-Sèvres, has its origins in the 11th century, although its main construction was associated with the 12th century. Originally built for the village of Saint-Maurice-de-Mairé, it is offered around 1060 by Guillaume I of Provence and his wife Arsinde de Comminges to the monks of the Abbey Saint-Cyprien of Poitiers, in a gesture of piety aimed at ensuring their salvation. This gift marks its anchor in the regional religious network and its spiritual role for local communities.

Over the centuries, the church underwent major changes: it was redesigned in the 15th century, then lost its parish status in 1836 after the abolition of the commune of Saint-Maurice-de-Mairé. In 1798 it was sold with its sanctuary to a merchant in Niort, Pierre Dubois, in the context of revolutionary upheavals. Despite these changes, its architecture retains medieval traces, such as intact capitals and an ancient structure, although the vaults collapsed and the southern foothills disappeared.

Classified as a historical monument in 1927, the church now illustrates a changing religious heritage: disused as a place of worship, it has served as a barn since 2022. Its western façade, adorned with a carved door with columns and archvolts, and its gable once surmounted by an openwork belfry, bear witness to its monumental past. Its history reflects the links between seigneurial power, religious institutions and social transformations, from the medieval period to the Revolution.

The current address, 2 routes from Saint-Florent to Aiffres, and its inscription as historical monuments underline its heritage importance, despite its partial state of degradation. Sources, such as Wikipedia and Monumentum, confirm its historical role in the religious landscape of Poitou, between Romanesque heritage and later adaptations.

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