Collegiate Church of Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand in Poitiers

After being destroyed during the invasions of the 5th century, the church was rebuilt at the beginning of the following century with the support of Clovis I (466–511), after a miraculous event that took place in 507. It was then placed under the patronage of Saint Hilary. The site was mentioned by Gregory of Tours (c. 538–594) following his visit. During the 8th and 9th centuries, the church suffered from the unrest of the time, including Islamic and Norman invasions, which forced the community responsible for the place to take refuge in Le Puy-en-Velay, bringing the relics with them. Despite this, a charter issued by Pepin the Short in 769 confirmed the property of the abbey, suggesting that it remained with some activity.

In the mid-10th century, William III, Duke of Aquitaine († 963), appointed his brother Ebles as abbot of the house. In 1074, Pope Gregory VII placed Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand under the protection of the Holy See. The canonical community was originally monastic in nature, living under a communal rule, but likely from its 10th-century restoration, it became a secular chapter of canons. The office of abbot, initially elected by the community, came to be appointed by the count’s household or the bishop of Poitiers.

In addition to other interventions in the 17th and 18th centuries, the church was affected by the Revolution, during which it was sold. In the early 19th century, demolition began to reuse the building materials, but this was eventually halted and the church was turned into a parish. The reduced building included the apse and its chapels, the transept, and a very short nave. Later, the restored structure underwent new works: between 1870 and 1884, the nave was partially rebuilt, resulting in the current church, somewhat shorter than the medieval one. Over time, various additions and modifications were made to the side chapels, the bell tower, and other architectural elements.