Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church Saint-Christophe de Chissey-sur-Loue, located in the Jura department in Burgundy-Franche-Comté, is a religious building whose oldest parts date back to the end of the 12th century, although its construction took place mainly in the 13th century. In Gothic style, it was enlarged and modified in the 15th and 18th centuries. The church has been listed as a historic monument since 1840, reflecting its early heritage significance.

The church houses a fragment of Saint Christophe's jaw, a medieval relic known for curing mental illnesses. This belief is illustrated by 64 carved figures, called Babouins, representing grimacious faces of people with physical or mental disabilities. These sculptures, though Gothic, recall the Romanesque modillons by their style. The portal, on the other hand, is decorated with a Christ surrounded by St Peter and St Paul.

Inside, a dozen objects are also classified as historical monuments, including a polychrome stone statue of Saint Christophe (15th century), a wooden panel fragment depicting the Santa Casa de Loreto (early 16th century), and silver liturgical objects of the 17th and 18th centuries. These elements reflect the artistic and religious evolution of the site throughout the centuries.

The Babouins have marked the local identity to the point that the inhabitants of Chissey-sur-Loue are so nicknamed, with reference to these sculptures. The iconography of the modillons and the study of their symbolism were analysed, such as that of Everardo Ramos in 1998, highlighting the mixture between local traditions and learned art in the 13th century.

The building, owned by the commune, remains a major architectural and cultural testimony, mixing medieval heritage, religious devolution and popular artistic expressions. Its early ranking and the diversity of its classified works make it a remarkable site of the Jura heritage.

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