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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Léger de Chaux-lès-Châtillon, located in the hamlet of Chaux-lès-Châtillon in the commune of Terres-de-Chaux (Doubs), is a religious building dating back to the 12th century. It was probably built between 1120 and 1139 under the patronage of Saint-Paul de Besançon Abbey and the guardianship of the lords of Roche-Saint-Hippolyte County. This first Romanesque building was renovated in the 14th century, then enriched with side chapels in the 16th and 17th centuries, and a sacristy in the 18th century. Its heteroclite architecture reflects these different periods, with elements such as the original choir walls or later added naves.

The church has been listed as a historical monument since September 24, 1936. In 1984, its lauze roof, rare in the area, was renovated, and in 1996 the renovation of the inner vaults revealed medieval frescoes on the triumphal arch and the choir walls. These paintings, probably dating from the 15th or 16th centuries, represent biblical scenes such as the Annunciation and the Holy Shroud, linked to the nearby city of Saint-Hippolyte. The building also houses classified furniture, including a wooden altarpiece of 1630 and a reliquary bust of Saint Léger of the 15th century.

The church of Saint-Léger is distinguished by its Romanesque bell tower with bays in the middle of the hangar and its blanket in tavaillons. Inside, six seigneurial chapels adorn the lower sides, while the choir preserves carved columns with capitals. The building, owned by the commune, now depends on the parish of Sancey-Belleherbe, attached to the diocese of Besançon. Its history and architecture make it a landmark witness to the franc-comtois religious heritage, mixing Romanesque, Gothic and classical influences.

The frescoes discovered in 1996, restored since, constitute a major part of its heritage. They illustrate religious themes such as the rosary, in connection with the retable of Jean Courtois (1630), local painter and father of the Courtois brothers, renowned baroque artists. These works, combined with classified liturgical furniture (statues, bell, painting of the Virgin), underline the historical and artistic importance of the building. The church remains an active place of worship, while attracting lovers of art and regional history.

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