Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The chapel Saint-Nicolas de Fontaines-en-Duesmois, built in the 16th and 17th centuries, is part of a unique architectural complex combining place of worship, wash and water. Built on two levels, its lower part houses a pool fed by a spring, accessible by a sigh in full hanger. The upper floor, illuminated by a window and side doors, preserves traces of murals probably depicting Saint Augustine and Saint Ambrose. The limestone lava roof is surmounted by a bell tower to the west.

The adjacent washhouse, built in 1781 by the engineer of the Bridges and Chaussées Pierre-Jean Guillemot, faces the chapel by a large bay in the middle of the hangar. Powered by the source of the chapel via an external gutter, its basin is emptied towards the moat of an ancient nearby castle. An apparent structure supports its cover identical to that of the chapel. To the right, a watering pot fed directly by the source completes this utility set, while other watering pots, intended for herds, mark the place.

The chapel-wash-drinking complex, inscribed in the Historical Monuments since 6 March 1950, draws its origin from a venerated source, perhaps linked to an ancient pagan place of worship. A cross engraved in 1787 by René Noronot and his wife, also classified, bears witness to local devotion. Restored in 1981 (wash) and 1982 (chapelle), the site now combines heritage and contemporary use with picnic facilities.

The chapel, dedicated to Saint Nicholas, illustrates the ingenuity of medieval and modern hydraulic constructions. Its underground basin, its system of drains and its integration into the hydraulic network of the village (federation of moats, waterworks in series) reveal a collective management of water, a vital resource for agricultural activities and daily life in Burgundy. The ensemble also reflects the evolution of religious and hygienic practices between Renaissance and modern times.

A communal property, this building combines sacred and profane functions: the chapel houses worship, while the washing and drinking facilities meet the practical needs of the inhabitants and herds. The source, a founding element, probably motivated the settlement of the village and the Christianization of the site, as evidenced by the primitive oratory and the persistence of local water-related traditions.

Future

The washhouse was restored in 1981 and the chapel the following year. Since hardwood installations have been added to allow picnics in this picturesque place.

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