Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The church of Sainte-Madeleine de Frontenay, located in the Jura, is a monument dating back to the 15th century. Its bell tower, considered the oldest part, bears witness to this medieval period. The choir, composed of two spans and a polygonal apse flanked by two chapels, seems to have been built in the late 15th century or early 16th century. These architectural elements reflect a transition from late Gothic to Renaissance influences, characteristic of the religious buildings of this time in Burgundy-Franche-Comté.

A third chapel, located northeast of the choir, was added after 1566, indicating an expansion of the building during the sixteenth century. The nave, initially covered with a ceiling under a lava roof, appears later, probably built in the early seventeenth century. In 1883 it was equipped with a wooden vault, marking a significant intervention during the 4th quarter of the 19th century. These changes illustrate the evolution of construction techniques and liturgical needs over the centuries.

The church as a whole was listed as a Historic Monument by decree of 3 November 2014, thus recognizing its heritage value. Owned by the commune of Frontenay, it embodies local religious and architectural history. Its location, at 122 Way of the Church, makes it a central point of the village, linked to community life for centuries. The accuracy of its location is estimated as fair, perhaps reflecting historical adjustments in its immediate environment.

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