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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Nicolas de Troyes, originally a chapel dependent on the parish of Saint-Jean-au-Marché in 1189, became independent in 1722. After the fire of 1524 which ravaged Troyes, it was rebuilt in stone. Master mason Gérard Faulchot proposed a plan in 1526, and the works began the same year. The lower parts of the choir and the north side were completed in 1535, while his son Jean built the chapels of the nave and the south side between 1551 and 1553. A new construction campaign, from 1553 to 1566, completed the north side, and Rémy Mauvoisin finished the cover between 1582 and 1608.

The bell tower, located on the other side of the alley on the north side, was destroyed in the 18th century. After the demolition of the fortifications, a western gate was added in 1840. The axis bay behind the high altar dates back to 1900. The church, adjacent to the old wall, presents a basilical plan with five spans and a narthex surmounted by a transversal chapel. Its architecture and interior decorations, including stained glass windows and statuary, make it a major testimony of Renaissance art.

The chapel of Le Calvaire, accessible by a monumental staircase, was desired by the vicar Jacques Collet. It houses a mural by Nicolas Cordonnier (1551-1552) framed by sculptures attributed to the workshop of Chaource, including a Christ folding under the cross and a Christ with a white marble column by François Gentil. The narthex, with its 17th century benigner and a statue of Saint Roch, leads to the western entrance. The southern portal, a Renaissance masterpiece, was created between 1551 and 1554 by Jean Falchot and Dominique Florentin, adorned with sculptures by François Gentil.

The church houses a remarkable 16th century statuary, including works such as Saint Agnes, a Calvary, and a Virgin with the Child. A statue of Bonaventure de Bagnoregio, probably from the convent of the Cordeliers de Troyes after the Revolution, is distinguished by its Franciscan iconographic details. The stained glass windows, dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, include gold-enhanced greyberries, such as The Miracle of Hostry (1563) and The Life of Daniel (1535).

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