Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Fleurey-sur-Ouche, located in the village on the eponymous town of Côte-d-Or (Burgogne-Franche-Comté), presents a transitional architecture between Romanesque and Gothic styles. Built according to a Latin cross plan with a non-protective transept supporting a central bell tower, it is 28 meters long for 11.50 meters wide. Its history dates back to the 12th–13th centuries, with changes in the 16th and 19th centuries. The nave, flanked by bottoms, preserves statues in painted wood (17th century), paintings from the 17th to 18th centuries, and a Christ on the cross of 1841. The choir houses late medieval sculptures, such as a statue of Saint Denis dating back to the 1500s, initially polychrome and then decapitated in 1940.

The bell tower, in Romanesque style with geminied berries, underwent several transformations: its four-paned roof, replaced in 1894 by a slate arrow, was restored in its original form in 1967. Inside, excavations carried out in 1996 revealed burials dating from the 14th to the 16th century, as well as two Merovingian sarcophagi (7th century), one of which, decorated with longitudinal striations, is now exposed in the building. The church, formerly linked to the Priory of Saint-Marcel de Chalon, would have been built on the initiative of Agnes de Bourgogne, daughter of Saint Louis, although its architectural style suggests rather an origin between the 12th and 13th centuries. It has been a historical monument since 1983 and bears witness to a rich religious heritage marked by successive additions and restorations.

The interior furniture and decorations reflect different periods: the pillars of the nave house 17th and 19th century statues (saint John the Baptist, Saint Barbe, Saint Joseph), while paintings from the 17th to 18th centuries illustrate biblical scenes. The triptych present in the church bears the coat of arms of the Bouthillier family of Chavigny, linked to the Abbey of Notre-Dame in the 17th century. The bells, descended during the Revolution and restored in the 19th century, highlight the historical upheavals suffered by the monument. Finally, architectural changes, such as the reconstruction of the porch in 1872 or the suppression of interior coatings in the twentieth century, reveal a constant desire to preserve and adapt to the cultural and aesthetic needs.

The archaeological excavations of 1996 revealed significant elements of the local funeral history: three burials in wooden coffins (XIVth–XVIth centuries) accompanied by coins, and two Merovingian sarcophagi, one of which contained an iron belt buckle. These discoveries attest to an ancient occupation of the site, prior to the construction of the present church. The exposed sarcophagus, with its striated decorations, is a rare testimony of this period in Burgundy. In addition, the building preserves traces of polychromy on certain statues, such as that of Saint Denis, revealed after restorations carried out in the 20th century.

The Church of Saint John the Baptist thus illustrates a complex historical stratification, from its medieval origins to its modern transformations. Its registration in the historical monuments inventory in 1983 devotes its heritage value, both for its architecture and for its furniture. Available sources, including local archives and archaeological studies, highlight its central role in the religious and community life of Fleurey-sur-Ouche, from the Middle Ages to the contemporary era.

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