Église Saint-Pierre

English translation

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History

In the 12th century, the town of Marennes was a priory of the abbey of Saintes. In the 14th century, it was incorporated into the royal domain by Charles V, who withdrew it from the jurisdiction of Saintes to transfer it to that of La Rochelle. At the end of the 14th century, Charles VI gave it the title of county. A church existed as early as the 11th century, rebuilt between the 11th and 15th centuries. During the Wars of Religion, tradition holds that the church served as a temple and fortress. In the early 17th century, the building is ruined, except for its bell tower. Rebuilding was launched in 1602 and completed in 1770. The building is covered with a roof around which runs a sort of parapet walk surrounded by a projecting parapet resting on a row of corbels which represent machicolations. The bell tower is in ogival style. Its plan is quadrangular at the base and with buttresses surmounted by triangular gables. It is surmounted by an octagonal spire of dressed stone, furnished with projecting crockets on the ribs and a series of triangles placed on the openings. Four sharp bell turrets compose, on each face, the axis of the base of this spire.