Church à Vandenesse-en-Auxois en Côte-d'or

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Vandenesse-en-Auxois, classified as a Historical Monument, is distinguished by its hybrid architecture combining Romanesque and Gothic styles. Its arms of transept, the oldest, date from the late 12th or early 13th century, with broken cradle vaults typical of this period. The choir, rebuilt in the second half of the 13th century, has complex arches of warheads and carved keys, while the lateral chapels, probably built in the 13th century, were vaulted later in the 15th century. The bell tower bays, added in the 16th century, bear witness to a progressive stylistic evolution.

The nave, originally Romanesque in a 1851 report, was completely rebuilt between 1856 and 1859 due to structural problems linked to its overloaded vault. The bell tower underwent partial demolition and expansion between 1898 and 1900, during which time its square arrow was replaced by a higher octagonal arrow. The clock was installed in 1903. These changes reflect the needs for restoration and adaptation of the building to the standards and tastes of the 19th and 20th centuries.

The church is characterized by remarkable architectural details, such as the veins of the vaults resting on prismatic caps, the windows in the middle or trilobed, and a cornice with modillons adorning the nave and bell tower. The high chorus attic and the apential roofs of the lateral chapels illustrate the successive adjustments to the structure. The cemetery adjacent to the north and the surrounding areas (sport grounds, private property) highlight its anchoring in the local fabric.

The historical sources, notably the report of the Swiss departmental architect (1851), mention an ancient Romanesque portal in the middle of the century, now disappeared, crowned with an archvolt returned, recurring pattern in Burgundy in the 13th century. This gate, with its tympanum decorated with a trilobed arch, as well as the structural porch that preceded it, recall the original appearance of the building before its major transformations.

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