History of St. Martin's Church

The church of Vailly-sur-Sauldre, built of red-brown sandstone materials for the walls and masonry of iron stones for the foothills, is located on the bottom of the main square, formerly called the so-called square « of the Priory ».
The capital of Pays Fort houses a church dedicated to Saint Martin, dating from the late 11th – early 12th century. Some sources make the cure of Vailly-sur-Sauldre depend on the abbey of Fleury in Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire.
The early construction had at the front, setting side, a powerful porch that had to wear a tower, perhaps a bell tower open to all winds. Above the large entrance, there was an awning a little protecting its interior from the weather, the three supporting ravens still exist. Its ground was at the same height of the so-called square « of the Priory » as well as the cemetery, allowing you to get back on foot.

In 1791 the church served as a forage attic.
In 1863, major works were undertaken and financed by the parish priest Bruneau and by donations from the commune's families. A new large curved door in red sandstone is then built and added in front of the Roman gate.
The two powerful foothills that surround are also being redone. The cemetery surrounding the church was then transferred. At this time, to meet the needs of a growing population, the church is enlarged.
A first chapel is built, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, followed four years later by a second, dedicated to Saint Joseph.

The particularity of the church is observed from the town square: the porch pediment. It is surmounted by the Republican motto « Freedom Equality Fraternity ». Only a few churches in France possess this originality. It is the legacy of the mayor of Vailly, Fortuné Mellot, notary and future deputy of the Cher, who decided to paint this motto on 24 June 1880, without permission, on a cement band just above the main door of the church.
A controversy followed with parish priest Noyer who stopped the work and referred it to the Archbishop of Bourges.
It was finally the Ministry of Cults that decided to allow the registration which will be completed in December. In May 2025, the erased band will be restored to the same location and virtually identical.