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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church Saint-Quentin de Dienville, located in the Aube department in the Grand Est region, is a composite building with the oldest parts dating back to the 15th century. The sanctuary and choir, of ogival style, as well as the two collateral spans, date from this medieval period. The following elements, between the choir and the tower, were built in 1558 in a Renaissance style, while the tower itself, more recent, was erected in 1784. This architectural stratification reflects artistic and technical developments over nearly three centuries.

The church houses remarkable elements such as a grille of the choir made in 1768 by Mathieu Lesueur, locksmith of Clairvaux Abbey. Originally, this grid separated the choir from the lateral and central naves, but only one door remains today, reused to close the cemetery. The organ, acquired in 1791, comes from the church of the Bernardine Ladies of Santiago de Vitry-le-Brûlé. The monument was classified as historic monuments in 1907, recognizing its heritage value.

A 7th century Merovingian sarcophagus, discovered in 1981 by a local farmer, is exhibited in the church. The burgundy-champenois sarcophagus was cut in white limestone and contained the remains of three individuals (female and masculine) as well as a fourth skeleton buried nearby. This archaeological discovery bears witness to the ancient occupation of the site and enriches local history.

The church also experienced historical vicissitudes, especially during the French Revolution. Of the nine bells initially present at the end of the 18th century, seven were removed during this period, and two were broken in 1814. Six new bells were blessed in 1820 by Bishop de Boulogne, marking a restoration phase after the revolutionary unrest.

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