The Romanesque church Originally, dated to the end of the eleventh century, was erected by the Abbey of Cluny on an ancient place of pelrinage, in place of a modest church given by a lord of Brancion for the salvation of his soul.
A Clunisian site: around the church was a dean of the Abbey of Cluny, a vast agricultural farm, run by a few monks, including a «dean», and in charge of feeding the abbey with cereals, wine, etc.
Saint-Hippolyte is a candidate for inscription on the World Heritage List «Cluny and European Clunisian Sites».
A fortified dean in the thirteenth century : the bell tower was enclosed in a large rectangular massing serving as a keep and ramparts were built on the sides.
The nave roof collapsed and the church has been partially ruined since the 15th century, but the remaining parts are impressive.
To preserve the building, restoration projects "Rempart" are organized annually.
The visit will allow you to discover, among other things, the improvements made during the last works: renovation of the lava roofs of the bedside, opening of the north door, rehabilitation of the arch of the child.
The visits are organized by the association "Le Renouveau de Saint-Hippolyte", whose object is the safeguarding, animation and promotion of the site.
To be noted : Visits depart every hour: 14h, 15h, 16h, 17. Duration: 45 min
Learn more:
To discover the church from the sky, in a video from the program "Des racines et des ailes":