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Origin and history

The Saint-Marcel church in Iguerande is a Romanesque religious building built between the late 11th and early 12th centuries. Originally dedicated to St Andrew, she was then placed under the patronage of St Marcel. Located in the department of Saône-et-Loire, it belonged to Benedictine monks of the diocese of Mâcon and was attached in 1088 to the Clunisian Priory of Marcigny. Its architecture reflects the influence of the order of Cluny, with a dark nave and carved capitals.

Ranked a historical monument by decree of 22 October 1913, the church benefited from restorations carried out by the Directorate of Historic Monuments in the late 1970s. Its cruciform plan, its three vaulted spans in the middle of the hanger, and its octagonal dome on trunks testify to the architectural mastery of the period. The square bell tower, decorated with geminied berries, and the western portal with a nude tympanum framed by an archvolt carved with plant motifs, reinforce its Romanesque character.

Inside, the church houses a masterpiece of plasterwork by Pascal Fontaine, the best worker in France in 1990, illustrating the transmission of craftsmanship. Exteriorly, its massive and sleek appearance dominates the Ligerian landscape, highlighting its historic role in the Brionnais. The building, owned by the commune, remains a major testimony of Burgundy Romanesque art and its clunisian heritage.

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