Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Nicolas de La Cotinière replaces a medieval chapel buried by wind sands, of which only a few remains remain near Rue de la Chapelle. Over the centuries, erosion and climatic conditions have erased almost any trace of this first sanctuary, reflecting the challenges posed by the island environment.

In the 1950s, the population growth of La Cotinière and the need for a place of worship for sailors led to the construction of a new chapel. Inaugurated in 1957 under the name Notre-Dame des Flots, this one, designed by Angelo Bridda, quickly suffers from the instability of the ground: walls apart and steeple collapsed lead to its closure in 1960. The project involved residents, including Martin families (donors of the land) and marine volunteers or farmers.

The present church is born on the initiative of the parish priest-dean Kieffer and his brother, architect Jean Kieffer, who choose a less exposed location. The first stone was laid on 10 July 1966 by Bishop Verdet, Bishop of La Rochelle, and the building was consecrated on 20 May 1969 under his current name. His triangular plan, evoking the Trinity and David's star, incorporates modernist stained glass windows in azure tones, a tribute to the missing sailors.

The bell tower is home to three bells, melted in 1970 by the Paccard foundry of Annecy and named on 12 July of the same year. These sound and visual elements reinforce the link between the sanctuary and the maritime community, while marking the architectural anchor of the island of Oléron in the 20th century.

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