Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Pierre de Pressy-sous-Dondin, located in the department of Saône-et-Loire in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, is a building whose history dates back partly to the 11th or 12th century. From this Romanesque period, only the base and the lower floor of the bell tower, characterized by twin bays in the middle of the wall, remain. This vestige bears witness to an ancient construction, although deeply transformed afterwards.

The major reconstruction of the church took place in 1857, under the direction of architect Berthier, who gave him a marked neo-Roman style. This stylistic choice arose in the course of the 19th century, where the neo-Roman was popular for restoring or rebuilding churches, mixing medieval inspiration and contemporary techniques. The portal, adorned with a carved tympanum representing Christ and the tetramorph, illustrates this revisited aesthetic.

In 1882 the architect Pinchard designed the plans to raise the bell tower, adding a floor to the belfry in the same neo-Roman style. The works, financed by M. de Longeville, then mayor of Pressy-sous-Dondin, finished giving the building its present appearance. This hybrid bell tower, both Roman and neo-Roman, thus embodies the historical strata of the church.

Today, St Peter's Church remains an active Catholic place of worship, attached to the Diocese of Autun and the parish of Monts-du-Charolais. Its architecture, combining medieval heritage and 19th century interventions, makes it a remarkable testimony to the evolution of religious buildings in rural Burgundy.

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