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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Pierre d'Isle-Aumont, located in the Aube department in the Grand Est region, is a religious building of ancient origins. It stands on a hill of twelve meters high, having served as a fortress and a place of passage for the pilgrims of Santiago de Compostela, as evidenced by a carved shell on its walls. This site, occupied from the Merovingian period by an abbey and a vast necropolis, is one of the first monastic establishments of Gaul. The hill, full of history and spirituality, still contains traces of Celtic habitat discovered during archaeological excavations.

In the 11th century, Robert de Molesme founded the Benedictine priory of Saint Ursion, to which the church was originally attached before becoming parishioner. It is then linked to a castle that has now disappeared. The parish was very extensive and included several villages such as Les Loges-Maquerons and Saint-Thibault. In the 16th century, the church was enriched with a statue of Virgin with Child in polychrome limestone, attributed to the "flamboyant" style and classified as a historical monument in 1894. This work, probably offered by Prior Étienne Sbourel, reflects the artistic and religious importance of the place.

The building, classified in 1967 with the grounds of the surrounding necropolises, has a composite architecture: a 12th century nave and another 15th century. Its furniture includes remarkable statues such as a Christ of Mercy and a 16th century Champagne altarpiece, as well as Merovingian sarcophagi exhibited in the Romanesque nave. Archaeological excavations conducted by Jean Scapula in the 20th century revealed more than 1,000 burials, including 600 sarcophagi, confirming the historic significance of the site. The church, surrounded by a Merovingian cemetery, remains the only listed monument in the municipality.

The Virgin to the Child, attributed to the Master of Mailly, and the statue of Saint Joseph and Jesus, associated with Jacques Juliot, illustrate the sculptural richness of the building. The altarpiece, inspired by Italy, and the Christ of Pitié, a major example of the troyan lapidary art, bear witness to the diversity of artistic influences. Recent restorations have preserved the roof, gables and exterior coatings, ensuring the sustainability of this exceptional heritage.

Saint Peter's Church, with its three shrines, its Merovingian cemetery and archaeological remains, is a major site to understand the religious, artistic and funeral evolution of Champagne. Its history, marked by donations, architectural transformations and archaeological discoveries, makes it an emblematic place of French heritage.

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