The Saint-Martin church is located in the commune of La Chapelle-Blanche-Saint-Martin, in the department of Indre-et-Loire, 17 km southwest of Loches.
The basic Romanesque building dates from the 12th century but its nave was remodeled in 1520. On this date, the pointed arch door and a small chapel to the north were also built. The base of the square bell tower also has a 12th century base, but its upper part was replaced by a square tower later.
We observe that the choir has two aisles, one of which to the north still has Romanesque capitals, and that in the 16th century, an aisle was added to the south, then covered with bricks (18th century).
Listed in the inventory, the building, remodeled several times, nevertheless displays a certain unity.
The church also retains three interesting stained glass windows made at the beginning of the 20th century by the Lobin workshops. They refer to episodes from the life of Saint Martin. The first represents the miracle of Abrepinière, when Saint Martin obtained the felling of a pine linked to a pagan cult by agreeing to place himself under the tree, the latter miraculously falling on the opposite side. The second takes up the theme of a famous painting: we see the return of the relics of Saint Martin. As the procession passes, apple trees bloom again and rays escape from the shrine which come to heal two paralytics. The third, finally, illustrates a scene which would have taken place near the village: the attack of which Saint Martin was the victim at a place called Montfouet. He was attacked and injured by mule drivers whose team had been frightened at the sight of the saint. Immediately, a storm broke out. The mule drivers then threw themselves at the feet of Martin, who blessed them then went to “wash” his wounds in the nearby fountain.
A statue of the saint and a Pietà are also to be seen.
Information on +33 2 47 59 62 13.
