Église Saint-Martin-de-Tours du Villar-d'Arène

The Église Saint-Martin-de-Tours of Villar-d'Arène has a long and eventful history. The parish, existing since the end of the 12th century, was originally under the patronage of Saint Blaise. The current building, dating from the third quarter of the 19th century, was built after the previous church had burned twice, in 1672 and 1771. The fire of 1771 ravaged almost the entire village and was described in the parish book of the community. Previously, the nave was covered with wainscoting, a type of wooden ceiling common in rural churches and chapels of the region. The paved public square in front of the current church was formerly the site of the former parish cemetery, which was transferred outside the village in 1870.