Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Thibault de Joigny, dedicated to Saint Thibault de Provins (1039-1066), originated in the 11th century. In 1075 the monk Arnould de Lagny, close to Count Eudes II of Blois, brought back relics of the saint from Vicence. A night stop in Joigny leads to the building of a chapel, later replaced by a parish church to serve the growing artisanal and wine-growing suburbs. This place also marks the baptism of Saint Madeleine-Sophie Barat in 1779.

Devastated during the Hundred Years' War, the church was rebuilt in 1490 in the flamboyant Gothic style, with bold vaults and a 16th century rosette. A fire in 1530 damaged the city and the building, requiring restoration and overhaul of the façade. The stained glass windows (XVIII–XIXth centuries) and the Burgundian statues, like a Virgin with Child, illustrate its rich interior decor.

Ranked a historic monument in 1914, the church houses major works: an equestrian statue of St Thibault (XIVth century, influenced by the Italian Renaissance), a countess of Joigny in stone (XIIIth century), and a Virgin of Pitié (XVIth century). His organ, built by Ducroquet in 1842 and restored in 1986, is also classified. These elements demonstrate its central role in local religious and artistic heritage.

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