Chadenac - Saint-Martin

A priory, dependent from the (once important) Benedictian abbey Saint-Sauveur de Charroux existed here since the 12th century. At that time Saint-Martin was erected as the church for the priory.

The church got enlarged and vaulted in the 13th and 14th century, but during the Wars of Religion (1562–1598), the structure got severely damaged, so that the ceiling and the crossing dome collapsed.

The imposant western facade with the large archivolts survived the attacks. The priory was sold after the French Revolution and all buildings, but the church, got demolished. Today Saint-Martin serves as the parish church of the small village.

The main portal in the architectural style, that is typical for the Saintonge. Two blind arches flank the larger arch/doors. There is no central tympanum, but a multitude of archivolts.

The carvers used local sandstone all over the Saintonge. The softness of these stones enabled them to create fascinating works, but unfortunately these stone tend to weather. If the carvings are not protected by a roof they just "vanish". Here it is still visible, that a tall (crowned?) person is placed in the center. Crist or a saint. Two angels support the mandorla. An evil animal lurks at the left corner.