Eglise Saint-Martin
ChurchHidden Treasure
Eglise Saint-Martin, located in Cherval (Dordogne), is a medieval landmark built in the Middle Ages. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Church
- Period
- Medieval (11th-15th century)
- Location
- Cherval, Dordogne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 45.3951, 0.3746
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00082488
The Romanesque jewel of the Périgord, the church of Saint-Martin de Cherval is striking for its four domes on pendentives and its straight chevet decorated with colonnette windows - a striking example of Romanesque domed architecture in the south-west.
History
Nestling in the peaceful village of Cherval in the Dordogne, the church of Saint-Martin is one of the most authentic examples of Romanesque architecture in the Périgord region. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1913, it belongs to that rare family of medieval buildings covered not with barrel vaults but with domes on pendentives, an architectural tradition that sets Périgord and its surrounding area apart from the rest of medieval France. What immediately strikes the trained eye is the succession of four domes that punctuate the single nave and give the interior an almost Byzantine atmosphere, bathed in subdued light. Unlike the great Gothic cathedrals, Saint-Martin does not seek verticality: it offers visitors an intimate dialogue with the stone, a soothing horizontality that the domes punctuate like celestial domes on a human scale. The right chevet is another remarkable feature. Pierced by windows framed by slender columns, it diffuses a soft light over the apse, creating a play of light and shadow that is particularly striking in the early hours of the morning. The sculpted abacuses, discreet capitals and sober ornamentation bear witness to a mastery of provincial Romanesque art, far from austere simplicity or decorative excess. The sturdiness of the building can also be seen in its walls, which have sloped steeply under the weight of the centuries, and to which massive buttresses have been added to support them. This structural intervention, visible from the outside, tells the story of several centuries of maintenance and care taken to preserve the monument. The attentive visitor will see the traces of a long dialogue between the fragility of the stone and the human desire to preserve it. Today, the church of Saint-Martin can be visited in unspoilt countryside, far from the tourist crowds, offering an experience of meditation and architectural contemplation that lovers of authentic Romanesque heritage will particularly appreciate.
Architecture
The church of Saint-Martin de Cherval belongs to the Romanesque domed style typical of Périgord and part of the Angoumois region. Its plan is that of a single nave, without side aisles, typical of rural buildings in this region, covered by four domes on pendentives - a structural device that consists of moving from the square plan of the bay to the circular plan of the dome thanks to four spherical corner triangles. This elegant and effective technical solution gives the interior space a remarkable breadth and serenity. The chevet is straight, a notable feature at a time when semi-circular apses dominated French Romanesque architecture. It is pierced by windows framed by finely carved columns, whose capitals bear witness to the care taken with the ornamental sculpture despite the relative modesty of the building. The sober and luminous east facade is one of the most meticulous elements of the composition. On the outside, the building is marked by the presence of massive buttresses, added to contain the overhang of the side walls under the thrust of the domes. These structural reinforcements, typical of medieval or modern consolidation work, give rhythm to the sides of the church and give it a stocky, robust silhouette, anchored in the Perigordian farmland. The materials used are those of the local building trade: Périgord limestone, quarried from abundant outcrops in the region, cut in regular medium bond.
Related Figures
Saint Martin de Tours (316-397) — évêque évangélisateur dont le culte a inspiré la dédicace de l'égliseProsper Mérimée (1803-1870) — inspecteur général des Monuments Historiques, promoteur de la sauvegarde du patrimoine roman en FranceEugène Viollet-le-Duc (1814-1879) — théoricien et restaurateur qui a influencé la redécouverte et la valorisation des édifices romans périgourdins au XIXe siècleAbbé Brutails (1850-1926) — archiviste et historien de l'art roman bordelais, dont les travaux ont permis de documenter de nombreuses églises à coupoles du Sud-Ouest
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Eglise Saint-Martin located?
Eglise Saint-Martin is located in Cherval, Dordogne department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
When was Eglise Saint-Martin built?
Eglise Saint-Martin dates back to a period built in the Middle Ages (11th-15th century).
Is Eglise Saint-Martin open to visitors?
Eglise Saint-Martin is currently closed to visitors.
