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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Savinien de Melle, mentioned as early as 1035 in the cartular of the abbey of Saint-Jean-d The present nave, built in the second half of the 11th century, succeeds an earlier first church. The transept and bedside, added at the beginning of the twelfth century, illustrate the Romanesque architectural evolution, with cradle vaults and a dome on trunks.

The bell tower, originally novel, was rebuilt in 1466 by Mason G. Marchant, as evidenced by the inscriptions on the structure. The church suffered major damage during the Wars of Religion, requiring urgent repairs in 1730, then in 1787 under the direction of architect Le Cointre. In the 18th century, it became a branch of the Saint-Hilaire church, marking a decline in its central role.

The church was transformed into a prison in 1801 and was the subject of numerous modifications by architects Mouchelet, Fautrel and Segrétain between 1801 and 1828. At the turn of the 20th century, the architect Déverin and entrepreneur Tribert restored the bell tower, the western facade and probably the bedside. After his disbandment in 1927, several restoration campaigns (1932, 1949, 1973-1979) gave him his medieval appearance. Today, it is home to cultural activities.

Ranked a Historic Monument in 1914, the church is distinguished by its varied materials: cut stone for the facade and bedside, slate and tiles for roofs, and limestone for apses. His plan combines a carpented nave, a vaulted transept in a cradle, and a cul-de-four apse, reflecting constructive Romanesque techniques. The successive transformations, from fires to reassignments, reflect its adaptation to the changing needs of the Meloese community.

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