Eglise Saint-Genest de Flavigny

Nestled in one of France’s most beautiful villages, the parish church of Saint-Genest dates to the Middle Ages and remains in service today.

Site History

Located in the medieval town of Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, one of the most beautiful villages in France, in the heart of Auxois, the Church of Saint-Genest reflects the history of a once-flourishing parish community. The church, built in the 13th century, was enlarged and embellished in the 15th and 16th centuries. It adopts the original style of a narrow nave with side aisles flanked by vast galleries to accommodate the faithful, to compensate for the smallness of the space available within the city walls. Over time, the church has preserved exceptional art collections, which include numerous sculptures and relics along with paintings and murals, all housed within a remarkable architectural setting classified as a historic monument in 1840.

About the Project

The town of Flavigny-sur-Ozerain has undertaken a major restoration program for the Église Saint-Genest in several successive phases, starting with the exteriors and the consolidation of the belfry and progressing to the interior. The interior phase will begin with restoration of the rood screen and the Saint Jean-Baptiste Chapel, where a treasury museum will be created, before moving on to the transept and the adjacent chapels. The work will be accompanied by restoration of the wall paintings and the remarkable collection of sculptures and relics. All of these phases will cost a total of €1.5 million.

Église Saint-Genest Today

Much of Chocolat was filmed in Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, and the Church of Saint-Genest is featured in a number of scenes. Today, the church remains in service. A range of agencies and groups are working together to restore this local treasure for the town as well as tourists to the region. The project was launched on the basis of an in-depth study carried out by a chief architect of historic monuments, who will also be responsible for project management. It was the subject of consultation with the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs of Burgundy-Franche-Comté and is co-financed by the state, the region and the directorate. The Fondation du patrimoine also launched a fundraising campaign.