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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Martin church of Scey-sur-Saône-et-Saint-Albin, built between 1739 and 1761, replaces a medieval building that has become too small and old. The works began under the direction of architect Jean-Pierre Galezot, who designed a three-nave, five-spaned hall church, vaulted in a cradle and border, supported by cruciform pillars decorated with Corinthian pilasters. The choir, finished with a polygonal apse, is flanked by six secondary chapels. This architectural party, typical of the eighteenth century, reflects the influence of the Enlightenment on religious constructions in Franche-Comté, combining functionality and classical aesthetics.

The bell tower-porch, added between 1755 and 1760 by architect Hugues Faivre, is distinguished by its gate in the middle of a wall surrounded by doric pilasters and surmounted by an oculus. Its decoration combines ionic and doric orders, with triglyphs and a belfry with an imperial roof decorated with an obelisk. Inside, an 18th-century wrought iron skeleton closes the main gate, while the furniture, including a stucco master altar made by Charles-François Marca, bears witness to the artistic fascist of the period. The building, classified as a historical monument in 2010, illustrates the evolution of religious architectural practices under the Old Regime.

The former church of Saint Martin was initially dependent on the parish of Saint-Albin. Its replacement is part of a context of urban and religious renewal in Upper Saône, marked by the will of local communities to assert their prosperity through monumental buildings. The construction of two campaigns (1739–161) revealed rigorous planning, financed by donations and local sponsors, some of which contributed to the rich interior decor. The church thus embodies both a place of worship and a symbol of the economic and cultural dynamism of the region in the Enlightenment century.

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