Boresse-Et-Martron: Churches, Heritage and Nature

Boresse-Et-Martron can be explored through two distinct areas of interest: architectural and church history, and the protected habitats within the municipality. This distinction is useful when planning your trip: the churches are notable for their different construction phases and restoration work, while the protected area is defined by its size, habitats and European pond turtle.

Churches and Architectural History

The Église Notre-Dame de Boresse is located in the Boresse district of the municipality of Boresse-et-Martron. It was first mentioned in 1098; its main construction phase dates to the 12th century. Around 1443, the church was fortified with royal approval. Its first mention, main construction phase and later fortification can therefore be understood as distinct periods in its history.

The architecture also offers specific points of interest: the church has a single-nave layout, a square bell tower and a choir set slightly to the north. These features make its design easy to appreciate without reducing it to a single architectural element. Its protected status is also multifaceted: the façade was listed as a Monument historique by decree of 22 August 1949. A further decree of 5 December 2000 extended the listing to the church’s other previously unprotected parts, the sacristy and the adjoining building.

Another church in Boresse-et-Martron is St Pierre et Saint Paul. Its appearance is solid, rustic and archaic. Extensive repairs took place in 1884 and 1890. During a restoration campaign in 1999, the façade and several severely damaged buttresses were reinforced. The church also contains the 18th-century oil painting Saint-Pierre au coq in a substantial wooden frame. Its appearance, work on the structure and the painting offer different ways to explore this church.

The Temple de Boresse is located on the Route de Chevanceaux in Boresse-et-Martron. A monthly Protestant service at 10:30 a.m. is listed; check the municipal calendar for specific dates before visiting. The temple adds a Protestant point of reference to the picture of the municipality, while the churches each tell their own stories of construction and restoration.

Protected Area and Habitats

The Landes du Terrier des Plantes et Bois Moreau protected area includes Boresse-et-Martron and covers 625.51 hectares. Its habitats include wet, nutrient-poor hay meadows, Atlantic heathland, marshy alder woods, fens and bog myrtle scrub. This variety ranges from meadows and heathland to wetlands and marshy woodland. Nature enthusiasts will find a different profile here than at the historic churches: the focus is on different habitat types and their ecological importance.

The protected area’s aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats provide suitable conditions for the European pond turtle. This connection to a specific species complements the diversity of habitats and highlights that aquatic and transitional habitats are also part of the area’s natural environment.

Another detail concerns Natura 2000 status at the municipal level: three percent of Boresse-et-Martron’s area is covered by a Natura 2000 site, a Site of Community Importance. This percentage refers to the municipal area, whereas the figure of 625.51 hectares refers to the area of the Landes du Terrier des Plantes et Bois Moreau protected area. These are therefore different reference areas.

You can choose between two clearly distinct areas of interest: the churches’ development over time and their architecture, or the protected area’s habitats and its connection to the pond turtle. This overview can help you decide which topics are of particular interest to you during a stay in Boresse-Et-Martron.

Discover more destinations: Thézac, Soubise, Burie, Villiers-Couture, Montlieu-La-Garde, Jarnac-Champagne, La Brée-Les-Bains, Pisany.

For the broader travel overview: Charente-Maritime.