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Origin and history

The church Saint-Pardoux de Vareilles, located in the Creuse department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, is a religious building built mainly in the 12th century. It consists of a bell tower-poach west covered with a dome on pendants, giving access to a nave of three spans, including the last form the choir. The axis of the building, diverted southward from the second span, and the presence of remains of a fortified tower on the north wall testify to an architectural evolution between the 12th and 15th centuries. Sculpted capitals, swimming pools paired in the choir, and limousine-style bays characterize his late Romanesque style, with later Gothic influences.

The church, under the patronage of the bishop of Limoges, underwent major changes in the 14th and 15th centuries, including partial fortification. In the 19th century, several works were carried out: paving and covering of the sacristy in 1830 and 1840, repair of the roof in 1862 and 1875. The sacristy, probably built in the early 19th century, was demolished in the second half of the 20th century. Enlisted in the historical monuments in 1963, the church illustrates the evolution of constructive techniques and defensive needs in Limousin.

The bell tower, slightly anterior to the nave (XIIIth century), has broken arches and an oculus at its key, while the third-point bays and throat piers suggest posterior changes. The 19th century works, although functional, altered some medieval elements. Today, the building remains a remarkable testimony of limousine religious architecture, mixing spiritual and defensive functions throughout the centuries.

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