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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of Sainte-Madeleine de Varessia, located in the village of La Chailleuse (Jura), is the only remaining vestige of the former Hospitallers' house of Saint-Jean-de-Jérusalem, founded in 1199. This religious establishment, now extinct, was a place of welcome and care for pilgrims and the sick, typical of the medieval hospital order. The present church, rebuilt in the 15th century, probably replaces an older building linked to this foundation.

Over the centuries, the church has undergone several restoration campaigns, including the sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This work was able to modify certain architectural elements while preserving its original structure. The building, inscribed in the Historical Monuments by order of 25 April 1995, now belongs to the municipality of Varessia. Its history reflects the evolution of religious and architectural practices in Burgundy-Franche-Comté, from the Middle Ages to the contemporary era.

The location of the church, in Varessia (Comune of La Chailleuse), is attested by the archives of the Merimée base, which place it precisely at the address 1 Rue de la Chapelle. Although the sources do not specify its current use (cult, visits, events), its status as a Historic Monument makes it a protected heritage. The accuracy of its geographical location is assessed as satisfactory a priori (note 6/10), based on available data.

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