Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church Saint-Marien de Mézilles, located in the Yonne department in Burgundy-Franche-Comté, dates from the 4th quarter of the 15th century, with certain parts completed in the 1st quarter of the 16th century. It has been listed as a historical monument since 1976 and was restored in 2013. Its architecture reflects the transition styles between late Gothic and Renaissance, typical of this pivotal period.

The building is closely linked to the local tradition of the procession to the Saint-Marien fountain, always practiced nowadays. This ceremony, attested to in 1868, aims to protect cattle from epidemics and predators. It begins with a Mass in the church, where the key to the building is placed on the animals, followed by a blessing at the nearby fountain where the cattle are watered.

Saint Marien, the central figure of this church, was a disciple of Saint Germain of Auxerre in the fifth century. A monk at Saint-Cosme-et-Saint-Damien Abbey in Auxerre, he became keeper of the herds of the abbeys of Mézilles and Fontenoy-en-Puisaye. Died around 470, his relics were transferred to Auxerre in the ninth century to protect them from Norman invasions. A chapel dedicated to Saint Cartauld, another animal protector, still existed in the 18th century.

The church, owned by the commune, is a major architectural and cultural testimony of the region. Its designation to historic monuments in 1976 underscores its heritage importance, while its recent restoration (2013) guarantees its preservation for future generations. The living tradition of the procession illustrates the persistent link between religious heritage and local practices.

External links