Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church Saint-Pierre de Maîche, located in the Doubs department in Burgundy-Franche-Comté, was built between 1753 and 1760 to replace a building damaged during the Dix Ans war. Its dome, completed in 1767, crowns an architecture of Corinthian order with baroque influence, with an imposing nave of 42 meters long, symbolizing the religious and artistic ambition of the period. The church houses remarkable elements such as an organ of 1779 (classified in 1985) and the baptismal fonts of the eighteenth century (registered in 1984), witnesses to the local movable heritage.

Ranked a historic monument in 1990, the church also incorporates a memorial dimension with a plaque commemorating the 19 guillotines of the Petite Vendée (1793). His lateral altars, dedicated to Saint Michael (the patron saint of the parish) and Saint Modeste (whose shawl preserves the relics), reflect his central spiritual role. In 1950, painter Jean Le Moal renovated his decorations, adding a modern touch to this historic place.

Attached to the parish of the Plateau de Maîche (diocese of Besançon), the church illustrates the architectural and social evolution of the Franche-Comté. Its construction, conducted under the direction of Abbé Petit and Étienne Bassignot, is part of a post-conflict context where the reconstruction of religious buildings marked the resilience of communities. Today, it remains a symbol of local heritage, combining sacred art, historical memory and active parish life.

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