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Origin and history

Saint-Maurice de Sens Church, located on Rue de l'Île d'Yonne, is a Catholic religious building dating back to the second half of the 12th century, although its main construction period was associated with the 13th century. It was thoroughly redesigned in the 16th century, including its western façade and apse. Originally, it served as a parish for fishermen and sailors, testifying to the intense river activity of Sens, where wood and barrels of wine passed to Paris or Auxerre. Ranked a historic monument in 1915, it suffered damage during the bombings of 15 June 1940, losing its original stained glass windows, replaced in the 1950s by figurative creations on azure blue background.

The interior of the church houses remarkable elements, such as a Renaissance high altar from a chapel in the Cathedral of Sens. This stone altarpiece, decorated with pilasters and niches, features decorations from biblical cities and a bas-relief stage. A polychrome equestrian statue of Saint Maurice, patron saint of the church, sits at the top of the altarpiece, accompanied by Saint Andrew. The lower side houses dedicated chapels, including that of the Blessed Sacrament (with a relic of Saint Fort) and that of the Virgin, where a 17th century Champagne sculpture represents the Virgin with the Child. The sacristy preserves relics and wooden statues of the sixteenth century, such as those of Saint Vincent, Saint Roch and Saint Fiacre.

The exterior architecture is distinguished by its flat half-timbered bedside overlooking the Yonne, topped by an arrow of slates. The gate is decorated with a tetragram, and a statue of St.Mauritius is visible there. The access is through three entrances: the large western gate (leading to the nave by steps), a south gate facing the stairway of the bridge, and a small north gate. The church, initially opened a few days a year, now hosts Masses every Saturday at 6.30 p.m. It depends on the Archdiocese of Sens-Auxerre and remains a place of veneration for the relics it houses.

Modern stained glass windows, created after 1940, illustrate holy figures such as Saint Fort, a relic of which is preserved in the building. The absence of transept and the arrangement of lateral naves in absidioles reflect an architecture adapted to its parish and river role. Its history is also marked by its link with the water coaches, these river convoys that once led the trade between Sens, Paris and Auxerre. Today, the church combines medieval heritage, Renaissance and contemporary restorations, while remaining an active place of worship and a witness to Burgundy religious heritage.

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