Ancienne église Saint-Martin de Sallertaine, Medieval church in Sallertaine, France.

The church Saint-Martin is a building with a cross-shaped layout and a central tower topped by a pointed spire. Built from local limestone, its western nave section was removed in 1915, leaving only the eastern portions that are now protected as a classified monument.

The church is the remnant of a priory founded in the early 11th century under the abbey of Marmoutier, with some early masonry still in its walls. It was largely rebuilt at the end of the 12th century and consecrated in 1173 by the Bishop of Poitiers. Damaged in 1568 during the Wars of Religion, it was restored from 1617. Replaced by a new parish church in 1906, it was saved by Abbé Grelier, who had it classified as a historical monument in 1910 and 1912; the municipality had the western end of the nave demolished in 1915.

The church is named after Saint Martin, whose devotion has been rooted in this region for centuries. The remaining frescoes on the walls speak to the spiritual practices of medieval worshippers who once gathered here.

Access to this protected monument is generally available from the outside, allowing visitors to view the eastern sections of the building. It helps to check locally beforehand, as opening times and access rules may vary depending on the season.

The crossing is covered by a Romanesque dome dressed with ribs that carry no structural load, an attempt by a mason apparently unfamiliar with Plantagenet Gothic to imitate Angevin vaults. The result is described as a curiosity without parallel in western France. Look up at the crossing to see the ribs meeting overhead.