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Origin and history

The Saint-Maurice church of Saint-Maurice-lès-Châteauneuf, originally dedicated to Saint Benedict, was the parish church of the village until 1860, when a new building was built. Its Romanesque origin and its stone bell tower, classified as a historic monument in 1926, make it a remarkable example of the churches of Brionnais. The nave, considered too small and in poor condition, was destroyed around 1860, leaving only the vaulted choir in cul-de-four and the square bell tower, pierced with bays and surmounted by a stone arrow. An episcopal visit in 1746 described a modest but richly endowed sanctuary: baroque altarpiece, wooden statues (saint Benedict, Saint Maurice, Virgin Mary), and stone baptismal fonts.

The demolition of the nave was motivated by a report of 1845 highlighting the insufficiency of the church to accommodate the population and its state of advanced disrepair. The bell tower, threatened with ruin, was preserved for its architectural interest. The new parish church, built between 1852 and 1860, permanently replaced the medieval building. Restorations in 2001 and 2004 consolidated the bell tower and rehabilitated the masonries, while preserving the sculpted patterns of the abside, typical of British Romanesque art.

Architecturally, the bell tower is distinguished by its lateral position, rare in the region, similar to that of Saint-Martin-du-Lac. A broken cul-de-four vaulted L-abside and a cornice decorated with modillons (animal heads, threatening figures) illustrate the know-how of local artisans. Today, the chapel serves as a witness to the Romanesque heritage of Saône-et-Loire, in a preserved setting at the top of the village, near the old cemetery.

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