The area of La Puye belongs to a region where Christianity was established very early, under the direct influence of Saint Hilaire, Bishop of Poitiers in the IV.e century. The church Saint Hilaire de Cenan is a Romanesque building whose parish dates back to the end of the 11th century.e century, located in an ancient and picturesque hamlet. The choir, the forerunner and the abside, vaulted in the middle of the hangar, are the oldest parts (circa 1150), and the main masonry of these spaces dates back to the end of the XIe century. The furniture classified there is quite numerous, including a table of the XVIIe century, carved and painted, typical of the Poitevin rural baroque.
In 1776, the church became an essential place for Acadians living in the Poitou, celebrating marriages, baptisms and burials, making this small rural building one of the spiritual centres of the Acadian Line. The bell tower, dating from the XVIIIe It is a rare case in France, since it integrates sacristy, the dwelling of the parish priest and a hexagonal bell tower, an absent combination of known national typologies.
The hamlet of Cenan, attached to La Puye since 1819, is located 1 km from the village. La Puye is known for its religious heritage, thanks in particular to the Daughters of the Cross, installed since 1820, where they established their Mother House. The community remains active, with regular services, spiritual reception, retreats and educational activities, and the congregation now has about 500 sisters in the world.
The church depends on the parish of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Châtelleraudais, attached to the diocese of Poitiers, and hosts occasional Masses, especially for the feast of Saint Hilaire, on 13 January. In 2026, the restoration of the bell tower was a priority.
