Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint-Laurent church of Saint-Laurent-en-Brionnais, built in the 11th century, was given to the abbot of Cluny by Viscount Archambaud Le Blanc when he left for Jerusalem. This donation, confirmed in 1039 by the bishop of Mâcon, marked his erection as a dean. The building, of Romanesque architecture for the choir, apse and bell tower, reflects its medieval religious importance.

In the 16th century, in 1592, the inhabitants obtained that a resident priest took over the church, strengthening its local anchor. Two construction campaigns marked the 19th century: between 1845 and 1850, the nave was rebuilt under the direction of architects Claude Berthier and Antoine Paul Selmersheim. In 1879 sculptures, masonry works and the cover of the arrow were made, partially modernizing the building.

Ranked a historic monument in 1875 for its choir and bell tower, the church preserves remarkable Romanesque elements, such as capitals carved from plant, human or animal motifs. Its 19th century portal, representing Christ in glory surrounded by the symbols of the Evangelists, illustrates its architectural evolution. Since 2018, the Church and Heritage Association of Saint-Laurent-en-Brionnais has been working for its preservation, with a sponsorship campaign launched in 2022 to finance works.

Today, the church remains an active Catholic place of worship, integrated into the diocese of Autun and the parish of Sainte-Marie-sous-Dun. Its furniture heritage includes painted wooden sculptures dating back to the 1840s, testifying to its continuous history for nearly a thousand years.

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