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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Sainte-Lheurine Church, located in Sainte-Lheurine in Saintonge (Charente-Maritime), was built in the 12th century in a Romanesque style. It preserves traces of this period, especially on its south wall, where there are still narrow windows in the middle of the hangar and a primitive door whose pillar housed the staircase of the original bell tower. Ranked a historic monument on September 4, 1913, it illustrates the local architectural evolution, marked by later enlargements.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, the church underwent major changes: the nave was half-extended, an ogival door replaced the Romanesque entrance, and a side chapel dedicated to the Sainte-Vierge was added. The square bell tower, pierced by geminied bays, and the north wall illuminated by flamboyant windows testify to this period. A Renaissance arch, dated 1543, connects the two parts of the nave, while the arch on cross of warheads and the bedside were completed in the 19th century.

The building, of imposing dimensions, is perched on a hill overlooking the plain of the Ne and the Clover. Inside, a hand engraved on the south wall, perhaps medieval, and a bell of 1753 recall its centuries-old history. The asymmetrical facade, the result of successive enlargements, and the blending of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance styles make it a remarkable example of Saintonge's religious heritage.

The Sainte-Lheurine Church is owned by the municipality and is protected for its hybrid architecture and its role in local history. Its classification among historical monuments underlines its heritage value, both for its primitive novel elements and for its late additions, reflecting the artistic and liturgical developments of the region.

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