EGLISE SAINT-MARTIN

Although the present church is not the first in the commune, it is clear that Catholic worship has been present in the commune for a long time. Grégoire de Tours mentions a cult of Saint-Martin de Vertou as early as the 4th century. The discovery of a Carolingian vat in the presbytery garden seems to confirm this. The church also contains a baptismal font, believed to date from the 9th century. The archives tell us that the church was rebuilt for the first time in 1716, then major works were undertaken after the Revolution under the Napoleonic concordat to restore the church, which was in danger of falling into ruin. Between 1804 and 1807, the bell tower was added, with a slate-coloured bulb in the shape of a Latin cross. Arcades and side chapels were also added. It was also around this time (1846) that the cemetery that surrounded the church was moved a little further into the village. The church blends two styles, the Romanesque style with its six arches and the Gothic style of the openings. Don’t miss the opportunity to push open the door and discover a very surprising interior. First of all, the wooden vault in the nave looks like the hull of an overturned ship, which must have been made by master shipwrights. There are also 3 main beams, all 3 enclosed by the jaws of three double heads representing animals from the Romanesque bestiary: the bear, the crocodile and the lion. Mass: Saturday at 6pm, Wednesday at 9am