Église Saint-Martin du nouveau bourg d'Oradour-sur-Glane

English translation

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History

On 10 June 1944, the village was destroyed by the "Das Reich" division. The reconstruction of the town was decided and carried out to the west of the old village. Last public building constructed in 1952-1953, the church dominates the south entrance of the new town. Built partly in concrete, notably for load-bearing structures and window surrounds, the walls are built of granite rubble stone covered with white render. Rectangular in plan on the ground, the architect gives the building a cross plan by playing with volumes: externally, the monumental porch of the main façade gives the illusion, in aerial view, of a Latin cross plan and, internally, the presence at the angles of the bell tower, the chapel to the east and the aisles to the west, confers upon the sanctuary a Greek cross plan. The main façade is adorned with murals representing Saint Martin in the centre with angels on each side. The other façades are pierced with five tall narrow stained-glass windows. The decoration is entrusted to well-known artists such as P. Parot and F. Chigot for the stained glass, Jean Burkhalter for the murals.