Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Collège de l'Assomption-de-la-Vierge, located in Villemaur-sur-Vanne in the Aube department, is a collegiate church classified as a historical monument since 1972. It is distinguished by its carved wooden jube, dated 1521 and attributed to the brothers Thomas and Jacques Guyon, a rare and precious architectural element. The building also preserves notable furniture, including 14th century funeral slabs and an eagle-shaped lutrin of the 16th century.

The furniture of the college includes a set of 16th century statues, such as a Saint Barbe in polychrome limestone or a carved group representing Mary and an angel. The remarkable pieces also include a 1777 pulpit to be preached, the work of carpenter Jacques Prudhon, and two 17th century copper commemorative plaques. Despite its rich heritage, the church has been subjected to thefts, including reliquaries such as that of Saint Flavit in Enamel of Limoges.

Villemaur-sur-Vanne, like many localities in the Aube, was a rural and religious place of life in the Middle Ages and modern times. Collegiate churches played a central role in community life, serving as a place of worship, gathering and preserving local memories. These buildings often reflected the prosperity and patronage of local families, as evidenced by the funerary slabs and commemorative plaques in the college.

The architecture and furniture of the college illustrate the evolution of artistic styles, from late Gothic to the classical period. The jube of 1521, for example, marked the transition between the flamboyant Gothic and the Renaissance, while the pulpit of 1777 reflected the 18th century craftsmanship. These elements make the building a valuable testimony to the religious and artistic history of the region.

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