The 12th-century domed church of Châtres

The abbey sits right in the middle of the vineyards at Saint-Brice. Does it look like a typical ruin? Not quite. Its Romanesque church is one of the most striking examples of a domed church in the Saintonge region. While nearby churches usually lean into heavy decoration, this one opts for an extremely sober elevation. It is a masterclass in proportion - the facade features arcatures that shrink in height as they rise, creating a clever, geometric rhythm.

The history of religious life at Châtres is very poorly documented. We know the site mainly because of the damage it sustained over the centuries. In 1562, a fire destroyed part of the convent buildings and the north arm of the transept. In 1795, the community was suppressed and the buildings and properties were sold as national goods, becoming a manufacture and later an agricultural operation. This transition led to the disappearance of a large part of the convent buildings that still remained.

What remains today is a mix of 12th-century domes and 14th-century vaulting. If you visit during the summer, you can take a guided tour to see the site. Recent work on the facade has even unearthed polychrome wall paintings - a colorful secret hidden beneath the stone for centuries.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons