The former priory of Saint-Nicolas de Villognon depended on the abbey of Saint-Amant-de-Boixe: shortly after 1040, Geoffroy, Count of Angoulême, donated his villa of Villognon and his estates to the abbey, who will build a church there, polarizing the population. Other donations follow, allowing this priory to develop, with mills, fisheries, communal oven, barn, stable, cellar, dwelling, etc. There are still imposing remains of the old priory dwelling on the south side of the church. The current church, built in the 12th century, has been extensively remodeled: its facade, the nave, and its north gutter wall. The roofs were mainly made of lauzes (flat limestone). The facade, rebuilt in the upper part, consists of a very beautiful portal with three arches, sculpted with geometric ornaments, supported by elegant capitals. He is flanked on either side by two carved panels: the northern one would represent a bishop blessing other characters (some have seen the enthronement of Saint Nicolas there?), while the southern one evokes Saint Michael slaying the dragon, accompanied by another angel (Saint Raphael?). In the upper part, various later sculpted elements have been reused. The presence of the old cemetery located in front of the facade explains the elevation of the ground, thus giving a squat appearance to the portal. The current building consists of a single nave ending in an apse, preceded by a bay under a bell tower. The interior of the nave has lost its stone vault: only the two columns remain, which must certainly have supported a transverse arch. The apse, lit by three bays, had a liturgical pool (washbasin) to the south.
Translated by Google •
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