Église Saint-Étienne

Built in the flamboyant Gothic style, with some Renaissance ornamentation, the collegiate church of Saint-Pierre was founded and enriched by the Dukes of Bar. Originally reserved for the town?s administrative officers, the Revolution transformed it into a parish church. Today, it houses the remains of the tombs of the Dukes of Bar.
The collegiate church - served by a college of canons - was erected in 1315 by Duke Edward I on the site of an earlier chapel. The many conflicts the town suffered during the Hundred Years' War damaged the original edifice. It was restored several times in the 15th century. Like many churches in the region, it is built on a hall-type structure, with the side aisles as high as the central nave, giving it great clarity. While the overall structure of the building is Gothic, many details reveal the emergence of a new aesthetic. The flamboyant decor, characterized by technical virtuosity and a quest for naturalism (flames, curly cabbages and grapevines), stands side-by-side with new-fashioned ornaments in Italian style, imported by the d'Anjou family, then in possession of the duchy. The facade was built between 1513 and 1520, while the bell tower dates from 1630.
In 1782, the town?s other collegiate church, Saint-Maxe, became a parish church. The chapter of Saint-Maxe merged with that of Saint-Pierre, bringing with it its treasures, relics and the remains of the sovereigns of the Barrois region. During the French Revolution, the building was mutilated and looted, the statues on the façade were removed, and the coats of arms covering the church were removed. Restoration work was undertaken in the 19th century, in view of the deteriorating state of the building. The church contains a wealth of furnishings and works of art, including two pieces by sculptor Ligier Richier: the Transi, a major masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture, and Christ and the Two Thieves.
Open from April to October. Guided tours for groups all year round, by prior arrangement.

DATAtourisme France