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Origin and history

The church Saint-Louis de Chaumot, located in the Yonne department in Burgundy-Franche-Comté, was built in the 15th century. It is distinguished by a unique nave 28 metres long, illuminated by six windows, and a four-paned apse. Its wooden vault, in broken arch, as well as two gates in the middle of the wall, date from this medieval period. The massive bell tower, added in the eighteenth century, replaces an old bell tower shot down by Paul Delpech, local lord. Inside, there are remarkable elements such as a statue of Saint Martin (XVI century), a 17th century altarpiece depicting Saint Louis healing the graves, and a 1775 tabernacle signed by the Parisian cabinetist Pierre Caminot, also author of a carved oak confessional (1779).

The church houses two historic bells: Claire-Louise, blessed in 1782 in the presence of a representative of Prince Xavier de Saxony (Lord of Chaumot and uncle of Louis XVI), and Paule-Jeanne, dating from the early eighteenth century. A third bell, disappeared, was reportedly carried away by the Cossacks in 1814 according to oral tradition. The monument underwent several restorations, notably in the 19th century thanks to Baron Thénard, then in 1936-1937, and finally between 1982 and 1986 for the roof. Two shawls, restored in 1996, preserve the relics of Saint Celsus and Saint Félicie. The building, registered as a historical monument in 1984, now depends on the parish of Sainte-Alpais of the Dean of Senonais.

Architecturally, the church combines medieval elements (nave, vault) and classic (clocher, 17th and 18th century furniture). Its history reflects local developments, from medieval lords to modern restorations, including episodes such as the disappearance of a bell during Napoleonic wars. The furniture, especially the statues and the altarpiece, bears witness to the local devotion to Saint Louis and Saint Martin, while the bells recall Chaumot's ties with the court of France via the Prince of Saxony. Today, the church is open only on an ad hoc basis for masses, ceremonies or concerts, while remaining a symbol of Yonne's religious heritage.

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