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Origin and history

The Saint Vincent de Mâcon Cathedral Church was built in the early 19th century to replace the ancient medieval cathedral, now known as Old Saint Vincent. Decided after the Concordat of 1801, its construction was financed by Napoleon I, with a total cost of 600,000 francs. Originally named church Saint-Napoleon, it was renamed church Saint-Louis under Louis XVIII, then church Saint-Vincent upon Napoleon's return. The works, led by architect Guy de Gisors, began in 1808 and ended in 1818.

The neoclassical building was erected on the site of an ancient Roman temple. Originally, its interior was stripped, without decoration or stained glass. In 1892, a major restoration was undertaken for 200,000 francs, followed in 1897 by the addition of interior decorations designed by the architect Authelain. The stained glass windows, made between 1858 and 1878 by Lyon master glassmaker Jean-Baptiste Barrelon, illustrate biblical scenes and holy figures, enriching the iconography of the cathedral.

The cathedral houses a large romantic organ built in 1841 by Joseph and Claude-Ignace Callinet, partially classified as a Historical Monument in 1973. This instrument, composed of 4 keyboards and 2,065 pipes, has undergone several technical modifications over the centuries. In 2008, a study estimated its complete reconstruction at €920,000. The building also hosted important events, such as the funeral of the poet Lamartine in 1869, in the presence of personalities such as Alexander Dumas Jr. and Émile Augier.

The neoclassical architecture of the cathedral is characterized by columns, a triangular pediment and a basilical plane. Inside, notable works of art include a painting by David, Christ on the Cross, surrounded by evocations of Saint Vincent's martyrdom, as well as medallions depicting the evangelists. The baptismal fonts, in dark green marble, date from the Empire period. Finally, one of the towers houses a carillon of nine bells, making Saint Vincent the second church in the diocese of Autun best equipped with bells.

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