Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church Saint-Hilaire de Bazoches, located in the Nièvre in Burgundy-Franche-Comté, is a Catholic building built on a rocky terrace. It presents architectural elements of the twelfth, sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, with a 12th century Romanesque bell tower and a 16th century nave. Its history is marked by destruction, such as the looting and burning by the Huguenots of Vézelay in 1569, as well as restorations, including that of its arrow damaged by lightning in the eighteenth century and repaired in 1864.

The church is intimately linked to the family of Vauban, whose marshal was buried there in 1707 according to his will. His heart, discovered in 1804 under the altar, was transferred to the Invalides in 1808 by order of Napoleon. The chapel of Saint Joseph, built in 1688 thanks to a gift from Vauban, initially housed its grave, which was violated during the Revolution. Today, some bones lie in the crypt under an adjacent chapel.

The stained glass windows of the church, works of the Lobin (father and son) of Tours, as well as its high altar offered by the Vibraye family, bear witness to its rich artistic heritage. An inscription on the west facade recalls the laying of the first stone in 1668 by Anne de Veilhan, Countess of Mehun. The building, classified as a historical monument in 1984, also preserves traces of the local lords, whose arms adorned the vaults until 1794.

The lateral chapels, dedicated to the Virgin, Saint Franchy, Saint Blaise and formerly to St Sebastian, reflect the cultural and artistic evolution of the building. A cross path in bas-relief, acquired on the advice of Abbé Allard, and various statues complete this decor. Despite thefts (statues of the high altar, painting of St Sebastian), the church remains a major historical and religious memorial in Morvan.

External links