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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Church of Notre-Dame de la Nativity, located in Voulaines-les-Templiers (Côte d'Or), finds its origins in a parish founded in 1107 under the authority of the Bishop of Langres. The present neo-classical building was entirely rebuilt between 1784 and 1786, and then completely renovated in the 19th century. In 1826, the architect Simon Tridon de Châtillon-sur-Seine undertook a major reconstruction completed in 1830, as evidenced by the inscription on the façade mentioning the date of 1827 and the name of the mayor of the time. A four-column entrance gate was added in 1831, giving the church its present monumental appearance.

The building is distinguished by its four-column gate supporting a low pediment, and a bell tower crowned with a 40-metre-high dome. The nave, illuminated by eight windows adorned with stained glass windows, is flanked by two sides separated by columns, leading to auxiliary altars. The furniture, mainly dating from the 19th century, includes a pulpit, baptismal fonts, paintings (such as Jesus at Martha and Mary, exhibited at the 1850 Salon) and statues from the 17th and 19th centuries, including a Christ on the Cross and The Kiss of Peace.

The church was listed in the General Inventory of Cultural Heritage for its furniture and then classified as a historical monument by order of 24 January 1991. This status protects both its architecture and its interior elements, reflecting its importance in the religious and neo-classical heritage of Burgundy-Franche-Comté. The municipality now owns it, continuing its central role in local life since the Middle Ages.

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