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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint Cassian church of Savigny-les-Beaune, dedicated to Saint Cassien (Bishop of Autun) since 1443, has a hybrid architecture. Its 12th century Romanesque bell tower, made of tufa stone, is the only vestige of a primitive monastic church. Its square base and octagonal arrow, surrounded by bell towers, contrast with the 15th century Gothic choir and transept, enlarged in 1785 to accommodate a flourishing brotherhood.

The 15th century fresco, discovered in 1935 in the vault of the bell tower, is attributed to Pierre Spicre, an artist linked to the school of Van der Weyden. It represents angels and saints surrounding Saint Cassian, with instruments of the Passion. This work, reproduced in 1954 for the Musée des Monuments Français, bears witness to Flemish influence in Burgundy. The furniture includes lutrins, medallions, and paintings from the 15th to 15th centuries.

Partially classified as a historical monument (transe and choir in 1925, bell tower in 1930), the church preserves traces of previous destructions, including calcined stones re-used in the bell tower, evoking invasions (Sarrasins in 731, Hungarians before the 11th century). The Confrerie de Saint-Cassien, active until 1793, attracted pilgrims from 50 neighbouring villages for the feast of August 5, justifying the expansion of the building.

The bell tower, 33 meters high, is distinguished by its geminous berries and its clocks in enamelled lava of Volvic. The south transept has a conical turret, while the bedside includes a rotunda chapel. The stained-glass windows of the choir, with its workpieces, and the rosace of the nave illuminate a space marked by seven centuries of religious and artistic history.

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