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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Saint-Baudile de Saint-Boil Church, located in the department of Saône-et-Loire in Burgundy-Franche-Comté, is a religious building of Romanesque origin built in the 12th century. It is characterized by its bell tower, a remarkable example of Burgundian Romanesque art, which was included in the additional inventory of the Historic Monuments in 1943. This bell tower, adjacent to the choir, presents three distinct architectural levels, surmounted by a four-sided arrow, and houses a bell dated 1553, one of the oldest in the diocese of Autun.

In the mid-19th century, under the impulse of Father Benoît Montillot, parish priest of Saint-Boil from 1843 to 1876, the church underwent important transformations. These modifications included the addition of lateral chapels forming a transept, the reconstruction of the bottom wall, the expansion of the choir, the replacement of the Romanesque openings with seven large bays, and the demolition of the entrance capital to the benefit of a porch. The work also involved roofing, the lavas being replaced by flat tiles. A major restoration took place between 1978 and 1979, with an official inauguration on 31 March 1979.

The church, still dedicated to Catholic worship, is now part of the diocese of Autun and the parish of Saint-Louis-entre-Grosne-et-Guye. It was listed as historic monuments by order of 9 July 1943, recognizing its heritage value. Its bell tower, the most notable element, illustrates the Romanesque architectural heritage of the region, while its history reflects the liturgical and aesthetic evolutions crossed by religious buildings over the centuries.

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