ANCIENNE ÉGLISE SAINT-MARTIAL
Religious building
in Hérépian
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Most likely built on the foundations of an earlier Romanesque church, parts of Hérépian?s first Saint-Martial church date back to the 15th century, but the main transformations took place in the 17th century. Following a visit by Bishop Clément de Bonsi in 1636, the church was enlarged, firstly on the choir side, which was later fitted with a huge altarpiece and remarkable paintings. The original rectangular plan was then transformed into a Latin cross, with the opening of two side chapels...
Most likely built on the foundations of an earlier Romanesque church, parts of Hérépian?s first Saint-Martial church date back to the 15th century, but the main transformations took place in the 17th century. Following a visit by Bishop Clément de Bonsi in 1636, the church was enlarged, firstly on the choir side, which was later fitted with a huge altarpiece and remarkable paintings. The original rectangular plan was then transformed into a Latin cross, with the opening of two side chapels to the north and south. Finally, the construction of the belfry and its external turret to serve it was launched on the western massif, on the site of the porch. By 1859, the church had become obsolete and too small, and was replaced by a new church of the same name, built a few dozen meters away.
In 1867, the former Church of St Martial was sold by the municipality to a private buyer.