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Origin and history

The Vermenton sundial, dated 1790 by an engraved inscription, is an emblematic monument located in the centre of the village, at the intersection of the street of the General-de-Gaulle and the street of the City Hotel. This double vertical dial, facing south and north, is placed on a doric limestone column 3 meters high. The richly worked southern face displays hours from 6am to 6pm in Roman numerals, with a metallic style inclined to 18.9° and a vegetal decoration surmounted by a radiant sun. The northern face, soberer, only wears morning and bladder hours between March and September, without functional style.

The monument bears the inscription "Let's fear the eye that sees everything" on its northern face, adding a symbolic dimension to its scientific use. Ranked as historical monuments in 1991 (after an inscription in 1989), it is attributed to a masterpiece named Laurent, although its exact identity and precise role remain unclear in the sources. Its precise location, near the tower of the union initiative, makes it a landmark in the urban landscape of Vermenton, while illustrating the art of sundials under the Old Regime.

The date of 1790 placed its construction on the eve of the French Revolution, a period when sundials, although less common than in the previous century, retained both practical and decorative value. The choice of a polar style and the precision of the time lines reflect advanced astronomical knowledge for the time. Its ranking among historical monuments highlights its heritage interest, both for its architecture and for its inscription in the local history of the Yonne.

Unlike many sundials of the same period, often integrated into churches or public buildings, the Vermenton sundial is distinguished by its open-air location, on an independent pedestal. This particularity, combined with its dual orientation, makes it a rare and well preserved example of the art of dials in Burgundy. The materials used (calcareous for the column, metal for the style) and the decorative motifs (sun, stars, plants) bear witness to a meticulous craftsmanship, characteristic of pre-revolutionary achievements.

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