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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame de Clessé, built in the 12th century, is an emblematic Romanesque monument of the Haut-Mâconnais, in Saône-et-Loire. Its tripartite facade, adorned with Lombard bands, and its octagonal bell tower topped by an arrow in polychrome tiles illustrate Burgundy Romanesque art. The bell tower, classified as a historic monument in 1930, houses a bell of 1817, recasting an earlier bell of 1705, bearing a commemorative inscription.

In the 18th century, the church, too small, could accommodate only a part of the faithful, the others remaining in the old cemetery adjacent. In 1856, major changes were made: the reconstruction of the door, nine windows, and the decommissioning of the cemetery. In the same year, the fence walls, also serving as a deliberative place for the inhabitants, were abolished. A northern chapel was added in 1859, and in 1886 a turret replaced the interior staircase leading to the bell tower.

The building, which was listed as historic monuments in 1929 for its unclassified parts, benefited from numerous restorations. In 1983, the choir and its stained glass windows were renovated, followed by the transept and nave in 1991-1992, where polls revealed old paintings. In 1990, exterior lighting enhanced the architectural ensemble after the restoration of the parvis. Today, the church is part of the parish of Notre-Dame-des-Coteaux-en-Mâconnais and remains an active Catholic place of worship.

The architecture of the church is distinguished by its ressalt portal and its decorative panels evoking Lombardic bands. The bell tower, decorated with geminied bays and crows, dominates the local landscape. The modifications of the 19th and 20th centuries, although discreet, preserved its Romanesque character while adapting it to liturgical and community needs.

Worship, always practised, is part of the diocesan tradition of Autun. The bell of 1817, blessed by the parish priest Lecuyer, bears witness to the links between the church and the village community, with the godfather and godmother of local figures: Jacques Michel, mayor, and Louise Michel, wife of a former mayor. These elements underline the central role of the building in Clessé's social and religious life.

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