Église Saint-Pierre de Moëze

The Gothic church of St Pierre de Moëze was destroyed during the wars of religion with the exception of its bell tower. The parish of Moëze was indeed very quickly, and by the vast majority of its inhabitants, rallied to the Protestant cause. A temple was built there in 1576, at the same time as in Soubise.
The current entrance to the church dates from the 18th century and includes a portal in the form of a Greek portico with a niche included in the triangle of the pediment. It was undoubtedly rebuilt just like its neighbor of Soubise by the descendants of Catherine de Parthenay, the Rohans reconverted to Catholicism.
The spire of the church of Moëze which majestically marks out the shores of the former gulf of Saintonge, testifies to the opulence and notoriety of the place. In the style of the Gothic bell towers of Saintes and Marennes, it is a large square tower with floors, either bare or pierced with long windows, supported at the angles by buttresses rising to a platform with balustrades. On this one rises between four pyramids an octagonal arrow with edges bristling with hooks. The flat of each side is pierced with narrow superimposed openings. The arrow presents a typical decoration of flamboyant art: the thistle. From up there, you can admire the whole marshes around, its tall silhouette undoubtedly enabled it to survive the destruction of the church.

If you wish to go up to the bell tower, the key is to be collected at the town hall.

Show less