Saint-Martin-l'Astier - Saint-Martin

This church, here seen from the parking lot, was a big surprise for me. It is visible that there is something strange, as the tower is just too massive..

It is not a "tower". This an octagonal chapel, that dates back to the 9th century. This is a Carolingian structure, related to Charlemagne´s octagonal "Palatine Chapel" in Aachen (= "Aix-la-Chapelle") and the oratory in Germigny-des-Prés.

There is no town near. The chapel is placed "in the center of nowhere" next to the small river Isle. "LÍsle. Was there a ford? Many human bones were found during excavations, that may be even older than the rotunda. Was there a battle? Was there a cemetery? A "hospital"? Or was this a baptisterium? It is claimed here, that this is not the only such building in the Dordogne area, but in France!

The Romanesque nave was added to the older structure within the 12th century.