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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Bénigne de Domblain, located in the Haute-Marne department in the Grand Est region, is a Gothic building built in the 13th century. It is said to have replaced an older building and served as a stop for pilgrims on the Chemin des Star, a medieval route from Mont Sainte-Odile to Saint-Renan. This path, located between the 48th and 49th parallels, attracted faithful in search of spirituality.

In the 15th century, the church underwent a major campaign of transformation: the choir was redesigned, a tower of access to the attic and a chapel were added to the north, and most of the bays were enlarged. These changes reflect the evolution of the liturgical and architectural needs of the time. A sacristy was probably added in the 18th century, during which time the building was equipped with remarkable furniture, including two polychrome wooden altarpieces, now listed in the additional inventory of historical monuments (2019).

The church also houses murals dating from its foundation until the 18th century, testifying to its rich artistic past. Closed to the public in 1993 for reasons of security, it benefited from a restoration programme led by the association Les Amis de la restauration de l'Église de Domblain from 2010 onwards. However, a fire ravaged the bell tower and part of the blankets on July 6, 2012, shortly before the construction began. The first restoration campaign ended in 2014, followed by a second in 2020.

Listed Historical Monument by decree of 19 March 1992, the church Saint-Bénigne illustrates the religious and architectural heritage of the Haute-Marne. Its recent history, marked by preservation efforts, highlights the local attachment to this iconic heritage of the East.

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