Built in the 12th century, the church in Chastellux was originally the castle’s priory. In the 17th century, the Count of Chastellux made it available to the villagers because the parish church was several kilometers away.
Today, the church still belongs to the castle and is still a parish church.
Count Philippe de Chastellux has been undertaking the restoration of the church for several years; the church is neither classified nor listed as a historic monument:
– 2019/2020: complete restoration of the roof structure and roofing
– 2022: restoration of the plasterwork inside the church
– 2025: restoration of the plasterwork in the bell tower; restoration of the prayer stools, chairs, and their upholstery; restoration of the confessional
– 2026 (in progress): restoration of the entire sacristy and its furniture infested with dry rot.
Before and After the Restoration
History
- 1174: Pope Alexander III asked the owner at the time, Artaud de Chastellux, to preserve the church, most likely because of its acoustic qualities.
- 1677: The church was made available to the villagers so they could receive the sacraments.
- 1820–1822: Count César-Laurent de Chastellux expanded the church and carried out extensive renovations, notably adding the current choir, beneath which the family crypt was built—a place where family members are still buried today.
- 1927: Olivier de Chastellux, Duke of Duras, launched a major new renovation project, which included, among other things, the installation of electricity.
Some photos taken during the restoration of the roof structure and roofing in 2019 and 2020
The bell tower
The body of the church
The restoration of the roof structure and roofing was supported by the Fondation pour la Sauvegarde de l’Art français.
