Origins of the enclosure Âge du bronze / Période de Hallstatt (≈ 1500 av. J.-C.)
First protohistoric occupation of the site.
1157
First written entry
First written entry 1157 (≈ 1157)
Early chapel quoted by Frédéric Barberousse.
XIVe siècle
Construction of the nave
Construction of the nave XIVe siècle (≈ 1450)
Building of the current Romanesque chapel.
Après 1613
Construction of the choir
Construction of the choir Après 1613 (≈ 1613)
Expansion of the chapel.
1637
Fire during the war
Fire during the war 1637 (≈ 1637)
Major damage during the Ten Years' War.
1660
Post-fire reconstruction
Post-fire reconstruction 1660 (≈ 1660)
Restoration after collapse of the bell tower.
30 novembre 1993
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 30 novembre 1993 (≈ 1993)
Protection of the enclosure and cemetery.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Precinct and cemetery (ZB 1-6, 8-13): registration by order of 30 November 1993
Key figures
Frédéric Barberousse - Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire
Cited the early chapel in 1157.
Joseph Elie Simonin - 19th Century Mason-Charpenter
Restore the chapel in 1837.
Origin and history
The archaeological site of Coldre in Briod (Jura) includes a protohistoric fortified enclosure, Gallo-Roman remains and a Merovingian cemetery. His occupation dates back to the Bronze Age or Hallstatt period, with strategic continuity until late antiquity. The rocky spur overlooking the valley made it a key place for the control of the territory, as evidenced by the remains discovered.
A Merovingian cemetery, discovered near the chapel Saint-Étienne-de-Coldre, confirms the importance of the site in the early Middle Ages. This necropolis illustrates the transition between late antiquity and the Middle Ages, marking an uninterrupted human occupation. The Romanesque chapel, mentioned as early as 1157 by Frédéric Barberousse, is part of this historical tradition of several millennia.
The present chapel, mainly from the 14th century, was remodeled after 1613 (chœur) and in the 17th century (facade and portal). Damaged by a fire in 1637 during the Ten Years' War, it was rebuilt in 1660. Major restorations took place in 1837 and 2014, preserving its novel character and minimalist furnishings. The site, classified as Historic Monument in 1993, is jointly owned by Briod, Perrigny and Conliège.
The Protohistoric Precinct and the Merovingian Cemetery, protected since 1993, underline the exceptional archaeological value of the site. Their dominant position on the Ledonian basin made it a point of monitoring and gathering, from the ages of metals to the Carolingian era. The chapel, with its panorama, today perpetuates this multi-year memory.
The excavations and the remains attest to a multicultural occupation: Celtic, Roman, and then French. The objects discovered (arms, pottery, burials) reveal trade and evolving funeral practices. This emblematic site of Burgundy-Franche-Comté illustrates the superposition of the epochs, of Protohistory in the Middle Ages.
