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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Taizé, located in the department of Saône-et-Loire, finds its origins in the location of a 10th century early chapel. Today open to Catholic and Protestant cults, it was restored in 1984, revealing its typical Romanesque plan of the Mâconnais: unique nave, square bell tower and semicircular apse. This restoration also allowed the installation of modern stained glass windows created by Éric de Saussure, known as Brother Eric, an emblematic member of the Taizé community.

Ranked a historic monument on October 22, 1913, the church was reported as early as 1912 by the Macon Academy as a priority building to protect, among the 12 oldest and most remarkable monuments in the district. Its architecture, marked by narrow bays and a sober plan, reflects the Romanesque heritage, while its abstract stained glass stands alongside religious representations such as St Francis of Assisi or the mystical Lamb.

A place of memory and spirituality, the church is inseparable from the Taizé community, founded in the 20th century. The adjacent cemetery houses the tomb of Brother Roger, founder of the community, who became a place of pilgrimage. This duality between medieval heritage and contemporary spiritual life makes the building a symbol of openness and interfaith dialogue.

Administratively, the church belongs to the parish of Saint-Augustin-en-Nord-Clunisois, attached to the diocese of Autun. Its protection in 1913 emphasized its historical importance, while Brother Eric's stained glass windows, made in abstract style, illustrate the artistic and spiritual evolution of the site over the centuries.

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