Église Saint-Léger

English translation

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History

The existence of a church from the Middle Ages appears to be attested by the numerous sarcophagi forming the enclosure in front of the western façade. In the middle of the 12th century and perhaps before, it was under the archipresbyteracy of Chaunay. The present building was doubtless built at the end of the 12th century. The openings on the southern part were modified during the 17th century. The bell tower dates from the 18th century. The church comprises a nave with a single vessel of three bays and a choir formed by a semi-circular apse concealed by a retable and preceded by a straight bay. The nave and straight bay are covered by a broken barrel vault. To receive the weight of these vaults, the north and south walls of the nave were doubled internally by large blind arcades, a solution characteristic of a group of buildings in southern Poitou. The apse is covered by a cul de four. It is lit by a central opening marked, both internally and externally, by an arch supported by sculpted capitals, the only element of sculpted interior decoration. The western façade has as its sole ornament the foliage capitals and engoulant of the door of Saintongeais inspiration. Traces of red ochre wall painting appear in the lower part of the interior walls of the nave.