Eglise Saint Martin de Pontenx les Forges

Originally, this church, dedicated to St Martin, had a single nave. It was redesigned in the 19th century with the addition of the south side nave and later a front porch.
It bears the imprint of the 15th c. with its watchtower and is composed of 2 naves. At the foot of the bell tower is an old interior doorway whose archivolt is decorated with leaning palmettes featuring oak leaves, which could be related to a late Gothic style. On the north façade of the bell tower there is a square opening that seems to have been an observation post. On the south side of the tower, there is a four-lobed opening that was used for surveillance. Inside there is a 17th century standing virgin made of gilded wood, she holds the baby Jesus on her sleeping arm while he is usually awake.

• Topics: Religious art, History
• Secondary Type: Historic site and monument
• Type: Historic site and monument