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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of Sainte-Sabine, located in the heart of the village of Sainte-Sabine in Côte-d'Or, is a religious building whose oldest parts, the choir and the transept, date back to around 1150. These elements, of late Romanesque style, contrast with the nave built around 1160-1170, whose high parts were redesigned at the end of the thirteenth century. The bell tower, characteristic of its broken arches and octagonal arrow, dates back to the years 1300-1320. The ensemble illustrates an architectural transition between Romanesque and Gothic styles, with broken cradle vaults and warheads.

Over the centuries, the church has undergone several restoration campaigns. As early as 1650, the transept was consolidated and the vault of the southern chapel was rebuilt, while a seigneurial chapel was added in 1675 to the north of the choir. In the 18th century, major repairs were undertaken: in 1757, the bell tower was reinforced by iron draughts, and between 1785 and 1788, the nave was restored, losing its original cover to a false wooden vault. The damaged tuff arrow is also revised.

The 19th century marked a critical turning point for the building, then in ruins. In 1851, architect Ch. Suisse drew up the restoration plans, followed by works led by Grosley between 1860 and 1867, inspired by a quote by Viollet-le-Duc. These interventions include the reconstruction of the west façade, the demolition of the tuff arrow replaced by a structural structure, and the addition of high windows in the nave. In 1885 Mairet restored the choir and transept, while at the beginning of the 20th century, work on covering (1911) and restoration of the chapel of the Virgin (1913, by Louzier) completed to preserve this heritage.

Classified as a Historical Monument by order of 26 October 1910, the church of Sainte-Sabine is distinguished by its three-vessel nave plan, its little salient transept, and its flat bedside flanked by chapels. The bays, mostly reshaped, nevertheless retain examples of broken arches with lancettes, typical of primitive Gothic. The bell tower porch, open on three sides, and the octagonal arrow make it an emblematic building of Burgundy heritage, witness to medieval architectural developments and modern restorations.

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