Saint-Martin-de-La-Coudre preserves a painted trompe-l’œil altarpiece at the back of the apse in the Église Saint-Martin. This altarpiece was classified as a historic monument in the category of movable objects in 1972 and restored in the 1980s.
Culture and History
The Église Saint-Martin de la Coudre is registered as a protected historic monument under reference PA00104616. The Chapelle des Bouchards d’Aubeterre contains the tombs of members of this Saintonge noble family, including Louis Bouchard d’Aubeterre and Catherine-Bérénice de Baudéan de Parabère. The Église Saint-Martin also contains the tombs of Seigneur Louis Bouchard d’Aubeterre and his wife Catherine-Bérénice de Baudéan de Parabère, as well as their portraits and coats of arms.
The former Château de Saint-Martin was apparently built by Jean de Raymond at the beginning of the 14th century. Near the church, only a few remains of the former Château de Saint-Martin survive.
In the wider surrounding area of Saint-Martin de la Coudre are Château de Sazay, a château; Abbaye de La Grâce-Dieu, a historic site; Ancienne Abbaye de Saint-Liguaire, a historic site; and Église Saint-Germain de Varaize, a church.
Paths and Landscape
Circular route no. 9 follows small roads and field paths through Saint-Martin-de-la-Coudre. The municipality provides the circular hiking route “Circuit de randonnées de Saint-Martin à Bernay” as a PDF download; the file is dated 1 October 2023.
The stream Le grand Pré runs through Saint-Martin de la Coudre.
Anyone considering Saint-Martin-de-La-Coudre as a travel destination can plan to rent a holiday apartment there.
