Due to the loss of its original documentation, the details of the foundation of the Augustinian canonry of Notre-Dame de Châtres, as well as its historical development, remain unknown. Gallia Christiana attributes its origin to the time of Arnaud Taillefer, Count of Angoulême, which would place its foundation in the last quarter of the 10th century.
The surviving church is of a later period: its construction likely took place throughout the 12th century. The building lost its apse in 1360 during the Hundred Years’ War and later suffered further destruction due to occupation during the Wars of Religion. The canons permanently left the site during the Revolution, when the property was sold along with all its assets.
Of the former abbey, only the church survives, in relatively good condition. After the Revolution, it was used for industrial and agricultural purposes. The building has lost its north transept, and the original Romanesque apse had also disappeared, replaced by a Gothic chevet with an almost square floor plan. Despite these changes, it retains a notable decorated façade. The other monastic buildings have mostly disappeared, although some remains are still visible, and additional vestiges may survive archaeologically.
Illustration from Statistique monumentale de la Charente (1844)
Illustration from Châtres. Congrès archéologique de France (1913)
- BAUDRILLART, Alfred (1953). Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques. Vol. 12. París: Letouzey et Ané
- BEAUNIER, Dom (1910). Abbayes et prieurés de l'ancienne France. Vol. 3: Auch, Bordeaux. Abbaye de Ligugé
- EYGUN, François (1979). Santoigne romane. La Pierre-qui-Vire: Zodiaque
- MICHON, Jean Hippolyte (1844). Statistique monumentale de la Charente. París: Derache
- PÊCHEUR, Anne-Marie (1999). Abbaye de Châtres. Église Notre-Dame de l'Assomption. Congrès archéologique de France, 153 ss. Société française d'archéologie
- RHEIN, André (1913). Châtres. Congrés Archéologique de France. LXXIX session. Angoulême. París: Picard
- SAINT-MAUR, Congregació de (1720). Gallia Christiana in provincias ecclesiasticas distributa. Vol. 2. París: Typographia Regia
The church of Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption de Châtres stands in an uninhabited area belonging to the commune of Saint-Brice, east of Cognac.