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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint-Léger church of Saint-Léger-Vauban, located in the department of Yonne, was rebuilt in the 15th century to replace an older building, whose bell tower preserves 14th century remains. Its Gothic choir and 18th century carved altar house a ceramic of 4,000 tiles of enamelled sandstone, the work of artists Serge Jamet and Marc Hénard, illustrating Christian humanitarian values. A side chapel, built in 1625 by the parish priest Philibert Bussière, features wooden panels carved by Marc Hénard, while the chapel of the Virgin houses a fresco by Jean Bouchery (1958).

Inside, a niche displays a statue of Saint Benedict in stone, also carved by Marc Hénard, near the Notre-Dame gate decorated with panels depicting Marian figures. The building, listed as a historical monument in 1988, is famous for having hosted the baptism of Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, future Marshal of France, on 1 May 1633.

The church thus combines medieval elements, Renaissance additions, and modern artistic creations, reflecting its evolution throughout the centuries. Its location in a Burgundy village, marked by the military history of Vauban, makes it an emblematic place of local heritage. The artistic interventions of the twentieth century, such as ceramics and frescoes, bear witness to a desire to preserve and enrich this historic monument.

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