Originally the church was a 12th century building dedicated to Saint Martial, first dependent on the canons of Saint-Romain then under the lords of Saint-Aulaye, who made it their chapel and were buried there. The church whose ceilings and walls are decorated with painted motifs has, among other things, a statue of Saint Martial in polychrome stone in the baptismal font. A white marble pulpit matches the two angels facing each other. In the center, the white Virgin, illuminated by the stained glass window in three shades of blue, seems ethereal. The 35 capitals, all different from the columns, and the medieval stained glass windows contribute to making the church of Mazion one of the most beautiful in Haute-Gironde. Having become too cramped and in poor condition, it was replaced in 1862 by a church dedicated to Notre-Dame and in the neo-Romanesque style. We can even speak of a true Romanesque style as the architects and artists wanted to recreate both outside and inside a true example of this period: some 35 different capitals are listed, and stone and marble altars, a pulpit monumental, stained glass windows created and made according to medieval techniques, statues, candelabra and a Stations of the Cross also designed identically are housed In addition, at the level of the chapel of the baptismal font, a polychrome stone statue representing Saint-Martial, dating from the 14th century, classified as an object, has been replaced The current church dates from 1860. But in 1891, the interior of the bell tower was repaired and a belfry was built thanks to the donation of an owner. In 1920, a fire destroyed part of the bell tower which was repaired in 1927 and again in 1946. In 1999, the bell tower was again damaged by the storm. This is where a generous donor comes in, Bernard Raboutet, who studied at Mazion. With former mayor René Sicaud, the Raboutet couple left at the start “to lend a hand”. In the family, we have always worked for local heritage like his father who fought for 55 years to defend the citadel of Blaye Through an association that still exists, and the town hall, very significant financial funds are provided by the couple. “With the advice of heritage architects, the skill of specialist artists in restoration, I am happy to have taken part in this human adventure and in the renovation of the church,” declared Bernard Raboutet
Translated by Google •
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