2015-09-20/2008-10-12 Châteauneuf-sur-Charente, église Saint Pierre, Charente, Poitou Charentes

Modillons of St. Peter's church
The parish church of St. Peter is remarkable for its statuary and in particular the jumper frontispiece, which represents the 1st Christian Roman Emperor, Constantine , crushing paganism. This statue symbolizes the victory of Christianity over paganism, represented by the building of the church since it was built on a former place of pagan worship.
It is also remarkable for its high facade of 24 meters, divided into three vertical sections and three horizontal sections, it is considered one of the most beautiful facades of Charente. From 1846 to 1860, the architect Paul Abadie undertook the restoration of the church. The outstanding hinges , fittings, door knockers of the gate and ironwork of the two glazed doors giving access to the church were made ​​in 1851 by blacksmith art Marie Pierre François Boulanger. The church is partly Romanesque (12th century), partly with a Gothic tower (15 th century).
The church hides a fun detail, a snail carved in high relief at the end of the nave, side altar. The brown garden snail is a symbol Charentais supposed to represent both the character of the inhabitants, discreet, peaceful, reluctant to get excited, a little homebodies and show their commitment to this animal, in terms of cooking. The Castelnoviens love to show this cagouille to their guests.
The church of Saint-Pierre was a former priory Benedictine of the Abbey of Bassac .
It is classified as a historic monument since 1862