Church of Saint Eloi en Haute-Saône

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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Éloi, located in Val-Saint-Éloi in Haute-Saône (region Burgundy-Franche-Comté), is a religious building whose origins date back at least to the 15th century, although an earlier foundation in 1136 is mentioned without certainty. It is characterized by a bell tower in a building, an architectural model not common in the department, where only eight examples remain, including that of Val-Saint-Éloi. This bell tower, along with the west façade, was listed as historic monuments in 2014, highlighting their heritage value.

The present structure of the church is the result of several works. The bell tower, probably built in the 15th century, reveals traces of these successive interventions. The nave, choir and sacristy date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The nave, composed of three spans, is vaulted with ridges and supported by double arches carried by simplified Tuscan pilasters. Inside, the building houses furniture considered to be of quality, although the sources do not specify its exact nature.

The church plays a central role in local life, as evidenced by the visits organized during Heritage Days or by appointment. Its management is carried out by the commune of Val-Saint-Éloi, and the key to the building is entrusted to a resident, Michel Jacquemin, illustrating the community anchor of the monument. Among the eight towers built in Haute-Saône, that of Val-Saint-Éloi remains one of the best preserved, unlike others, such as Montdoré, later modified to adopt a four-sided roof.

Available sources, including Wikipedia and Monumentum, also mention its inclusion in recent preservation initiatives, such as the list of sites selected for the Heritage Lotto in 2018. These elements underline the importance attached to safeguarding this religious and architectural heritage, typical of the small rural communes of Franche-Comté.

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