The Church of Our Lady of the Nativity is located in the hamlet of Aigueparse, on the territory of the municipality of Mazeyrolles, in the Dordogne, 10 km south-east of Monpazier.
It dates from the 12th and 14th centuries.
A first building was indeed built in the 12th century consisting of a small nave which ended with a wall pierced with a bay, overlooking the choir and the apse. However, in a region hard hit by the Crusade against the Albigenses then the Hundred Years War and finally the Wars of Religion, a defense tower was erected in the 14th century, at the western end of the nave. This tower is crowned by battlements and pierced by numerous archers.
At that time, it was undoubtedly also considered to reinforce the defense of the nave and to raise it, but this work was only partially and roughly carried out.
Finally, note that a bell tower with two arches rises above the apse.
This beautiful example of Romanesque style adapted to the vicissitudes of history presents beautiful testimonies such as carefully sculpted capitals.
Isolated in a bucolic environment, the building listed in the Inventory can mark a walk in the heart of the Périgord Noir.
Information on +33 5 53 29 93 75.
