Date entered on a cartridge 1779 (≈ 1779)
Possibly related to construction or decoration.
XIXe siècle
Open to the public
Open to the public XIXe siècle (≈ 1865)
Made available by the Marquis de Bozas.
12 mars 2003
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 12 mars 2003 (≈ 2003)
Protection of the entire building.
XXe siècle
Become a parish church
Become a parish church XXe siècle (≈ 2007)
Change of official status.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The entire church (Box I 101): inscription by decree of 12 March 2003
Key figures
Marquis du bourg de Bozas - Owner of Prye Castle
Opened the church to the public in the 19th.
Origin and history
The church of Saint Vincent de la Prye, located in La Fermeté in the Nièvre, has its origins in the eighteenth century. Originally, it served as a private chapel at Prye Castle, owned by a local noble family. Its architecture is distinguished by a unique nave extended by two arms of transept, typical of the small rural churches of the period. The ceiling, composed of wooden blades forming a cut-pane, is adorned with geometric motifs, roses, suns and rocky-style foliage, reflecting the artistic taste of the Enlightenment century. A cartridge bears the date of 1779, attesting to this period of construction or decoration.
In the 19th century, the Marquis of the village of Bozas, then owner of the castle, put the building at the disposal of the local population. This change of status marked its opening to public worship, although it did not become officially parish church until the twentieth century. The ensemble, including its remarkable interior decoration, was protected by an inscription at the Historic Monuments in 2003, recognizing its heritage value. Today, the church belongs to the commune of La Fermeté and retains the traces of its history, between seigneurial heritage and community life.
The building illustrates the evolution of places of worship in rural areas, where private chapels, often linked to an aristocratic domain, could be transferred to the community to meet its spiritual needs. Its painted decoration, particularly well preserved, offers a rare testimony to the techniques and provincial artistic styles of the eighteenth century. The location of the church, within the park of Prye, also recalls its original link with the castle, now disappeared or transformed.
