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Origin and history

The Church of Saint-Martin de Clamecy finds its origins in a parish chapel of the 8th century, transformed in the 11th century into a collegiate church by Viscount Guy de Clamecy and the bishop of Auxerre Geoffroy de Champallement. The building, originally dedicated to Saint-Potentien, was enlarged thanks to the donations of the local lords, including Countess Ida and Mahaut de Courtenay, who financed its development with tithes, rents and land. Major works began around 1215, after the freeing of the city by Hervé de Nevers, marking the beginning of a three-century construction campaign.

The Gothic reconstruction was articulated in several phases: the nave and its first three spans were built as early as 1240, followed by the choir, considered a masterpiece of Burgundy Gothic with its Cistercian influences. The 15th century saw the completion of the nave and the dedication to Saint Martin in 1438, while the monumental tower, a symbol of local pride, was erected in 1497 by Pierre Cuvé, dit Bat-le-Duc, from the stone of Basseville extracted locally. The façade and portal, decorated with 32 scenes of St.Martin's life, were completed at the beginning of the sixteenth century, despite the tragic death of their architect, crushed by a block of stone.

Ranked a Historical Monument in 1840, the collegiate society experienced vicissitudes, especially during the French Revolution, where it became a Temple of Reason and suffered degradations, such as the attempt to destroy its tower by Fouché. The bells, including Martine — the only one spared until 1851 — were recast or damaged, before being restored with local funding in 1857. In the 19th century, Viollet-le-Duc removed the jube of 1525, now exposed in the nave, while the organ of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, installed at the same time, was classified for its exceptional heritage value.

The building retains remarkable architectural elements, such as its ivy vaults and thirdons, its stained glass windows, and its eight inner chapels. The tower, accessible by an integrated staircase, offers a panoramic view and houses decorative gargoyles, while the gate, despite the erosion due to the nests of swallows, remains a unique testimony of medieval iconography dedicated to Saint Martin. Tragic events, such as the partial collapse of the walls in the 16th century or the accident of 1654 during the feast of the Holy Barbe, recall the challenges of its preservation.

In the 20th century, the college was the scene of political symbols, like the red flag raised in 1935 after the election of a communist city council, replaced after 1945 by the tricolor flag. The 1940 bombings slightly damaged its gargoyles, but the building, owned by the commune, remains a place of worship and memory, illustrating the religious, social and artistic evolution of Nivernais throughout the centuries.

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