Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Madeleine church, located in Troyes in the Dawn, is a Gothic building whose nave dates back to the 13th century, while the choir, apse and tower were rebuilt in the 16th and 17th centuries. It has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1840, and its door to the old cemetery was listed in 1926. This monument illustrates the architectural and artistic richness of Troyes, marked by contributions from wealthy parishioners, including members of the nobility of dress.

The church houses a remarkable vitreous heritage, including glass windows depicting religious scenes such as the life of Saint Louis, Saint Éloi, or the Passion, offered by local families or corporations such as shoemakers. These windows, dating from the 15th and 16th centuries, bear witness to the devotion and patronage of the inhabitants of Troyes, as well as to their economic prosperity at that time.

The stone jube, a masterpiece of the flamboyant Gothic, is an architectural feat made between 1508 and 1517 by master mason Jean Gailde. With complex sculptures and coats of arms, it symbolizes the religious fervour and collective commitment of parishioners, who actively participated in its construction. The walls of the choir, the statues like that of Saint Michael or Saint Martha, and the paintings of the seventeenth century, including those of John Nicot, further enrich this place.

The church also preserves classified liturgical objects, such as marble baptismal fonts and 18th-century benches. Its organ, built in 1901 by Charles and Frédéric Rollin, completes this heritage ensemble. The building, owned by the commune, remains a living testimony to Troyes' religious and artistic history, from the Middle Ages to the modern era.

The location of the church, at the corner of Charles-de-Gaulle and Madeleine streets, makes it a central point in the urban landscape of Troyes. Its old cemetery, whose door and walls have also been protected since 2015, recalls its historic role in the community and spiritual life of the city.

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