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Origin and history

The Castle of Baume, also known as Priory of Saint-Lothain, is a former Benedictine monastery founded in the fifth century by Abbé Lautein (448-518), originally from Autun. Set on the ruins of a pagan temple and Celtic cemetery, this priory was one of the first centres of Christianization in the Sequan region, then marked by barbaric invasions. Lautein, a disciple of the Saint-Symphorian Abbey of Autun, led a life there before attracting a community of monks, placing the site under the name of Saint-Martin.

At that time, the Sapaudia (future Franche-Comté) was part of the Burgundian kingdom, a period of transition between late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Monasteries played a key role in preserving knowledge and evangelizing the countryside. The Priory of Saint-Lothain, with up to seventy monks, became a major spiritual center, leading Lautein to found a second priory in Buvilly to accommodate the influx of disciples.

In the 9th century, after destruction caused by the Viking invasions (circa 888), the priory was restored by Saint Bernon, abbot of Baume-les-Messieurs. The latter, founder of Cluny Abbey in 910, imposed the Benedictine rule and placed Saint-Lothain under Cluny's dependence, strengthening his religious influence. The buildings were rebuilt, and the current crypt, sheltering the relics of Lautein, date from this period.

The 10th and 11th centuries saw the building of the Romanesque church still visible today, while the priory prospered thanks to the wine-growing, as evidenced by the underground vaulted cellars. However, its decline began at the end of the Middle Ages, with the concentration of monastic powers at Cluny and Baume-les-Messeurs. The French Revolution (1791) completed its disappearance by selling it as a national good.

Today, the site is partially ruined, but retains some remarkable elements: the Merovingian crypt, a sixth century sarcophagus, and remains of the 9th century prioral house. Although not classified as historical monuments, it remains a place of memory of the Clunisian heritage in Franche-Comté. Archaeological excavations could reveal more about his past, especially about Buvilly's missing priory.

Local legend attributes Lautein miracles, and his cult continued until the 19th century. The priory also illustrates the pre-Roman monastic architecture, rare in the region. Its history reflects the political and religious upheavals from the Merovingian Gaul to the Revolution, passing through the golden age of Clunisian abbeys.

Finally, the site is part of a Jurasian landscape marked by the vineyard, a legacy of the venerating monks. Close to Poligny and Lons-le-Saunier, he offers a tangible testimony of primitive Christianity in Burgundy-Franche-Comté, between history and mystery.

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