Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of the Assumption-de-la-Vierge, located in Villemaur-sur-Vanne in the Aube department, is an ancient collegiate church whose origins date back to the 13th century, with major transformations in the 16th century. It is distinguished by its carved wooden jube of 1521, attributed to the brothers Thomas and Jacques Guyon, a rare and exceptional element for this period. The building also houses remarkable furniture, including statues in 16th-century polychrome limestone (sanitary Barbe, an angel and Mary, the Education of Mary, Mary with the Child) and an eagle-shaped lutrin of the same period.

Among the notable pieces are two medieval funeral slabs (Isabiaus Creissart and Jehan and Issabeaus, 14th century), as well as a pulpit to be preached in 1777 signed by carpenter Jacques Prudhon. Two 17th century copper plaques, dedicated to local families (Jean Suzanne, Jean Huchard), completed this set before the flight of several reliquaries, including that of Saint Flavit in Enamel of Limoges. These disappearances marked the recent history of the monument.

Ranked a historical monument by decree of 4 July 1972, the church illustrates Champagne religious architecture, mixing Gothic and Renaissance heritage. Its collegiate status reflects its past importance in the spiritual and social life of Villemaur-sur-Vanne, while its furniture bears witness to local craftsmanship, from wood sculptors to goldsmiths. The accuracy of its location (code Insee 10003) and its connection to the commune confirm its territorial anchoring in the Great East.

Available sources (Wikipedia, Mérimée base, Monumentum) highlight its heritage value, while reporting documentary gaps, such as the lack of details on original sponsors or the specific circumstances of the flights. The building, a communal property, remains a place of memory and worship, although certain elements of its history (such as missing reliquaries) can no longer be studied in situ.

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