Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church Saint-Pierre de Saisy, located in the department of Saône-et-Loire, finds its origins at the end of the 12th century. Built on the remains of an earlier building whose stones were reused, it preserves its western gate, its choir, its bell tower and its apse arched in cul-de-four. The tower, covered with lauzes, has five arches in the middle of the wall, while the bell tower, restored in 2014, houses two bells dated 1516 and 1712. The ground, paved with tombstones from the old cemetery, bears witness to its funeral history.

In the 14th century, a fire classified as Historic Monument in 1918 houses the burial of Jean de Bellore (died 1312), grandson of the Lord of Sivry. Its tombstone, decorated with a cotte of meshes, a sword wound with a snake (symbol of his profession as a doctor) and a shield, is accompanied by an epitaph in ancient French. The church underwent major restorations, notably in 1897 (threat nave), 1833 (unsteady hatch), and 1846 (reconstruction of the belfry). His furniture also includes a contemporary altar painted in 1990, evoking Saint Peter with keys in a jumper.

Partially classified since 1913 (choir and bell tower), the church illustrates Burgundian Romanesque architecture, marked by re-use of materials and late Gothic additions (bottom and bell tower of the 15th century). The murals, which are now hidden under the batigeons, and the slate arrow complete this heritage. The sacristy, added in 1868, and the rosace redone in 1856 reflect the stylistic evolutions of the nineteenth century. The building remains a testimony of medieval religious and funeral practices, linked to the local nobility as the lords of Sivry.

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