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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Abbatial Palace Saint-Bénigne de Dijon, located in the city centre, is an ancient religious building transformed over the centuries. Originally integrated into Benedictine abbey, it was partially rebuilt from 1756 to affirm the independence of the community from the newly created bishopric. The works, entrusted to the architect of Dijon, Charles Saint-Père, provided for a neo-classical ensemble in the form of a U, but only the wing of the hotel was completed before the interruption of the construction sites in 1774, when the bishop obtained the union of the Abbatial Manse in the diocese.

In 1806, the existing wing became the episcopal palace and was enlarged eastward for symmetry and administrative use. The interior was completely redesigned to accommodate diocesan services. After the law of separation of the Church and the State in 1910, the building was awarded to the Department of Public Instruction, which installed the school of fine arts in 1920. Today, it still houses the National Higher School of Fine Arts in Dijon (ENSA Dijon Art & Design).

Ranked a historic monument since 1996 for its main building and since 1924 for its garden adjacent to the ancient Benedictine dormitory, the palace illustrates the architectural and functional transformations of a religious building through political regimes. Its history reflects the tensions between abbatial power and episcopal power, then its conversion to artistic teaching in the 20th century.

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