Fontaines-d'Ozillac - Saint-Martin

A small, Romanesque church, erected in the 12th century, got too small during the time of the Renaissance. It had a wonderful carved facade - and got saved! A second nave was built beside it - and the new facade was constructed "around" the old one, so both styles now are under joined one gable. The church got renovated in the 1990s.

Here is the Romanesque part of the facade, the portal of the old church, constructed in the typical "style saintonge" . Romanesque art was "rediscovered" during the 19th century. For centuries these medieval works did not belong to "art". So to save this facade within the 16th century is quite remarkable.