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.

Following the "style saintonge", there is no tympanum, but lavishly carved archivolts over the doors, seen here. The large outer archivolt depicts six armed knights (archangels) spearing devils. In the middle archivolt are two humans on either side, bitten by creatures, further on are lions and eagles fighting, all entwined by vines. The inner archivolt has an "Agnus Dei" in the center flanked by two angels and two evangelists, holding the bible. Of course there are smaller "floral" archivolts here as well.