Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church Saint-François-d'Assise du Bélieu, located in the Doubs department in Burgundy-Franche-Comté, was built between 1629 and 1631. It was partially destroyed during the Ten Years' War, when the Swedes burned down. Its bell tower, characteristic with its imperial dome, was rebuilt in 1680, marking a key step in its restoration. The exterior walls, covered with tavaillons (wood tiles typical of Franche-Comté), reflect the local techniques of the time.

The church houses exceptional liturgical furniture, including several rooms classified as historical monuments. Among them is the altarpiece of the Virgin (1667), carved by François Cuenot, an artist from France, or the golden high altar of the eighteenth century. Other remarkable elements include a pulpit to preach, procession lanterns, and a statue of Saint Eloi (17th century), bearing witness to the artistic and religious richness of the region.

Ranked a historic monument since 13 April 1929, the church now depends on the parish of the Russian plateau, attached to the diocese of Besançon. Its architecture, combining baroque influences and local traditions, makes it an emblematic heritage of the Doubs. Protected objects, such as the 1733 confessional or a 17th-15th century pietà, underline its historical and cultural importance.

Available sources (Wikipedia, Merimée base, Monumentum) confirm its status as communal property and its openness to the public. Its precise address, 1 Rue des Essarts in Le Bélieu, allows visitors to discover this jewel of franc-comtois heritage, marked by the conflicts and reconstructions that shaped its history.

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