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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Réol church of Ambonnay, located in the Marne, is a Romanesque building built in the 12th century, originally dedicated to Saint Remi. His dedication changed after the discovery of relics of Saint Reol, bishop of Reims, attested in 1672. A coast of the saint, offered by the Abbey of Hautvillers, was venerated at annual ceremonies on 30 June and 25 November, in connection with the traditions of the Abbey of Orbais.

The villa of Ambonnay is mentioned in 1020 in the cartular of the Trinity of Châlons. In 1179 Thibaut de Rivelart sold the seigneury to the cathedral of Saint-Étienne de Châlons, which shared it with the abbey of Saint-Denis de Reims until the Revolution. These ecclesiastical institutions jointly exercised patronage rights over the parish, notably after the meeting of the parishes of Isse and Ambonnay.

Romanesque architecture, the church preserves original elements such as its 12th century nave, initially covered with a carpented vault, and its bell tower at the corner of the choir. It was thoroughly rebuilt in the 15th century and was classified by order of 7 February 1922. The presence of relics and its history linked to the regional abbeys make it a significant testimony of the Champagne religious heritage.

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