Église Saint-Christophe et Saint-Phalier

English translation

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History

The church comprises a nave without aisles, a double transept, a choir followed by a sanctuary on semicircular plan. The nave is preceded by a porch with an upper storey forming a gallery. A double arch resting on a central buttress, and framing the total height of the porch and the gallery, forms an additional shelter at the entrance of the building, and supports the gable. In the third bay of the nave open, to the north and south, two similar chapels. A square bell tower, covered by an octagonal timber spire, rests on the crossing of the transept. A crypt extends under the choir and the sanctuary. According to tradition, the church would have been entirely rebuilt by Jean Coeur, lord of Chablis and bishop of Bourges (1446-1483). This new church appears to have been built on the foundations of a first building of the 12th century of which there remain only the four piers of the arm of the cross and part of the west wall of the north transept. The crypt dates no doubt from this first period, or is even earlier. Traces of paintings (figures) are visible under the whitewash, over the entire inner perimeter. On the exterior, set into the wall of the north transept, is found a series of bas-reliefs of the 11th or 12th century, representing some of the signs of the zodiac.