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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Jean de Châtillon-sur-Seine originated in a chapel founded by Jean Dupuis, a wealthy merchant, and consecrated in 1551 by Philibert de Beaujeu, bishop of Bethlehem. The latter offered the building a bone of Saint John the Baptist, marking his initial religious vocation. The chapel, dedicated to the Chaumont district, was enlarged at the beginning of the seventeenth century by the addition of a nave: the dates of 1610 (side door) and 1617 (key vault) attest to this construction campaign. The bell tower, initially placed on the 3rd span, caused problems of stability, requiring bow-buttons and shuttering of the side arcades.

In the 18th century, the church underwent major changes. In 1723, a new sacristy was built, followed in 1725 by a funeral vault accessible from the outside (dalle dated 1726). The bell tower, rebuilt in 1740 by architect Verniquet, adopted an octagonal plan with two domes and an arrow, but its weight damaged the structure. Between 1775-1777, consolidation work was conducted by Antoine Colas, including double arches in the choir. A Tuscan column porch, visible on the 1810 cadastre, was destroyed in the 19th century. The hurricane of 1810 rigged the bell tower, rebuilt around 1820, while bays were added to the chapels.

The church houses exceptional furniture, classified as Historical Monument: stained glass (1551), statues (XIIIth to XVIIth century), stalls (1665) from the Chartreuse of Lugny, and murals. The stained glass windows of the Tree of Jesse (1551) and the Virgin with two doves (1320) illustrate her artistic richness. Registered in 1991, it is regularly restored to preserve this unique heritage, combining religious architecture and furniture treasures.

Located on RD 965, at the north-west exit of Châtillon-sur-Seine (Côte d'Or), the Saint-Jean church is distinguished by its unique vaulted nave, its blind pentagonal choir illuminated with stained glass windows, and its massive foothills. Close to Marmont Castle, it embodies the architectural and spiritual evolution of Burgundy-Franche-Comté, from the wars of Religion to the modern era.

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