Parish Church St. Martin Cressier

3 November 2020

The old parish church of St. Martin in the municipality of Cressier (canton of Neuchâtel) is situated next to Jeanjaquet Castle, or rather, the other way around.

The foundations of the church date back to the sixth and seventh centuries, during the late Roman era. Spolia (materials) from an old Roman temple have been used, and a Roman temple is the predecessor of the church.  The Romans left the region at the beginning of the fifth century.

Aventicum (Avenches) was the first bishopric of this region in the fifth and sixth centuries; Lausanne became the new episcopal city in the sixth century.

In 1180, the Bishop of Lausanne donated the church, its vineyards, forests, fishing grounds, and meadows to the Abbey of Fontaine-André (at Neuchâtel-La Coudre).

Shortly afterwards, the Romanesque tower and the nave were rebuilt. They still exist. The choir was built in 1424. After the construction of the new church of St. Martin in Cressier, Lord Jean Jaquet bought and renovated the church in 1872..