Eglise de St Denis d'Oléron
Dates & opening times
Descriptif
The priory of Saint-Denis is mentioned in a charter of 1047, when Geoffroy Martel, Count of Anjou, then master of Saintonge, donated it to the abbey of Les Dames de Saintes.
Rebuilt in the 12th century under Eleanor of Aquitaine, the church was then fortified. Plundered and ravaged on numerous occasions by the Huguenots, the church was altered several times over the centuries.
The main interest of this monument lies in its Romanesque façade. The base, listed as a historic monument in 1896, is inspired by Gallo-Roman architectural techniques (geometrical motifs, rectangular daisies, foliage, filleted columns). Note the oculus above the portal.
Inside the church, the nave has preserved a number of ancient pillars, two of which still bear Romanesque capitals with plant motifs. In the south aisle, a display case houses a model of the 52-gun frigate "Le Napoléon".
The bell tower and side chapels were added in the 19th century.
Tracking
Eglise de St Denis d'Oléron Rue Ernest Maurisset17650, Saint-Denis-d'OléronFrance
ItineraryCharacteristics
Contact
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