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Origin and history

The Saint-Jean-Baptiste church of Valencia, located in Saint John's Square in the old town, is perched at the highest point of the city, a sign of its seniority. Considered one of the first Christian places of worship in Valentia (the ancient name of Valencia), it is mentioned for the first time in 1189 in the inventory of the chapter of Valencia, although its construction probably dates back to the early Middle Ages. Councils were established in 374 and 855, attesting to its early religious importance. Its bell tower-porch, partly dated from the twelfth century, and its Romanesque capitals bear witness to this medieval era.

In the 15th century, the church, then degraded, underwent restoration work. It was burned in 1567 by Protestants during the wars of religion and rebuilt in the early 17th century by Bishop Jean de Catelan. In 1720, a major reconstruction was undertaken, including the prohibition of burials in the building and the relocation of the adjacent cemetery. A fire in 1785 damaged the bell tower, whose jacquemart was replaced by a wrought iron campanile. The Revolution transformed the church into a military warehouse and prison, before it was reopened to worship in 1801.

Between 1840 and 1849, the body of the church was rebuilt according to the plans of architect H. Epailly, inspired by the architecture of St. Apollinaire Cathedral. The bell tower-porch, renovated in 1861 by Auguste Chauffeur, adopts a neo-Roman style with elements such as geminied berries and Lombard bands. In the 20th century, the church underwent restorations after the damage of the Second World War (glass windows blown in 1944) and a campaign of devastation in 2005-2006. Today it preserves relics of Saint Venant and remarkable novel capitals, such as that of the Snake Woman.

The capitals of the entrance to the bell tower, dating from the Middle Ages, illustrate biblical scenes and symbolic motifs. Among them, Tobie's capital, capturing fish, represents the episode of Tobie's book, while others show masks spitting out of foliage or hybrid animal motifs. These elements, as well as the architectural similarities with the Cathedral of Saint-Apollinaire, underline the central role of the church in the religious and artistic history of Valencia. Its inscription in historical monuments in 1978 protects this medieval and neo-Roman heritage.

The Church of Saint John the Baptist embodies nearly two millennia of valentine history, marked by destruction, reconstruction and liturgical adaptations. Its bell tower, visible from the city, and its modern stained glass windows (created in 1945 by Thomas and Balayn) recall its resilience. Today, it remains an active place of worship, bearing witness to the architectural and spiritual evolution of Valencia, from late antiquity to contemporary times.

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