The church of Notre-Dame de Fontenay-le-Comte was the seat of a Benedictine priory dependent on the former Abbey of Notre-Dame de Luçon. The first record of this priory dates from the year 942. The church was rebuilt in the 11th century and, in the following century, it took on parochial functions. It was rebuilt again in the 15th century, but this work was heavily affected in the second half of the 16th century due to the Wars of Religion.
The site was occupied by Calvinists until 1594. Restoration works were later carried out. In the 17th century, it hosted the bishop and chapter of the cathedral of Maillezais, until, in 1666, that diocese was transferred to La Rochelle. The church was closed following the Revolution and turned into a Temple of Reason. After a further restoration to repair the damage, it regained its parochial functions in 1803. The restored Gothic church survives, notable for its bell tower and the south portal, from the same period. The original crypt is also preserved.
Crypt
Photo by GFreihalter, on Wikimedia
Illustration from Notes et croquis sur la Vendée (1843)
Bibliothèque nationale de France
Illustration from Notes et croquis sur la Vendée (1843)
Bibliothèque nationale de France
Illustration from Notes et croquis sur la Vendée (1843)
Bibliothèque nationale de France
- AUBERT, R. (1971). Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques. Vol. 17. París: Letouzey et Ané
- AVRIL, Louis-Marie (sd). Église « Notre-Dame » Fontenay-le-Comte (Vendée). Fontenay-le-Comte : Loriou
- BEAUNIER, Dom (1910). Abbayes et prieurés de l'ancienne France. Vol. 3: Auch, Bordeaux. Abbaye de Ligugé
- DILLANGE, Michel (1976). Vendée romane. La nuit des temps, 44. Zodiaque
- MONBAIL, Émilien de (1843). Notes et croquis sur la Vendée. Niort: Robin
Fontenay-le-Comte lies between Niort and La Roche-sur-Yon