Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Arconcey, located in the centre of the village in the enclosure of the cemetery, has a composite structure reflecting several periods of construction. The nave, the oldest part, dates back to the 12th century, although its openings and covering were subsequently redesigned. It preserves the remains of Romanesque leesenes, characteristic of this period. The entrance to the building was marked by the gate in the middle of the village, preceded by a neo-classical porch added in 1769. The forearm span, vaulted with warheads on carved caps, as well as the three-span choir and its side chapels, date back to the 13th century, illustrating the transition to Gothic style.

Subsequent additions and modifications reflect architectural evolution and liturgical needs. The seigneurial chapel, to the left of the choir, was added at the end of the 15th century, during which the reamping of the axial bay was probably re-established. The bell tower, pierced with broken arched bays and surmounted by an octagonal arrow in tufe, also dates back to the 13th century, although carved patterns adorn its cornice. The porch, built in 1769 as evidenced by the date engraved on the portal, marks a neo-classical intervention in a mostly medieval ensemble.

Major restoration campaigns have marked the recent history of the building. Between 1857 and 1860, the architect of Dijonnais A. Chevrot supervised important works: the extension of the south wall and the gable of the choir, the vault of the sanctuaries in tufa, the addition of foothills, and the construction of the right chapel of the choir. In 1899, a project by A. Oechslin planned to replace the nave-walled cradle with a brick arch, but the latter was not realized. Only the repair of the frame, the covering, and the drilling of new windows were completed. These successive interventions underscore the desire to preserve and adapt the building to changing standards and needs.

The church, classified as Historic Monument by decree of 7 December 1925, illustrates by its eclectic architecture the different phases of construction and restoration that marked its history. The nave, with its broken crib with penetrations and its wooden doubles, contrasts with the arches of the choir, supported by columns with hooked capitals. The trilobed reamped windows, the quadrilobed sinks of the chapels, and the sculpted details like the flowered cross on the lintel of a side door, bear witness to remarkable craftsmanship. These elements, combined with the bell tower's octagonal arrow, make this building a significant example of Burgundy's religious heritage.

External links