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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assumption of Noyers-sur-Serein, originally dedicated to Notre-Dame, was built between 1491 and 1515 to replace a medieval building that had become too small and vulnerable to the floods of the Serein. The first stone was laid on 3 May 1491, and the church was consecrated on 26 August 1515, as evidenced by an inscription engraved above the door of the sacristy. Its architecture combines a nave with a central ship flanked by two collaterals, a two-vessel transept, and a choir ending in apse with three sides, all arched with warheads.

The bell tower, erected in 1616, was the object of several repairs in the eighteenth century: in 1741, the tower and its healer were restored by carpenter Maurice Drouhot, while in 1785, the choir was transformed and a second sacristy added. The stone reconstruction of the belfry, mentioned as necessary in 1789, as well as work on the arrow by Jean Bonneau in 1797-1798, marked the end of the major structural developments. The outer porches, considered obsolete, were demolished at the same time, with the exception of the southern porch.

Ranked a historic monument by decree of April 11, 1906, the church is distinguished by its defensive elements such as foothills and bows, as well as by remarkable architectural details. Among these are a main gate in segmental arch with two doors under braid, a staircase turret decorated with a stone curate topped by a cock, and carved arch keys. The materials used, flat tiles for the nave and lavas for appentis, reflect the local resources and construction techniques of the Renaissance in Burgundy.

The building illustrates the transition between the flamboyant Gothic and the early Renaissance influences, visible in the decoration of the veins of vaults resting on carved caps. Its history also reflects successive adaptations to liturgical needs and climatic hazards, as evidenced by its initial displacement away from the banks of the Serein. Today, it remains a major testimony of Yonne's religious and architectural heritage.

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