Saint-Martin Church, Chapaize (Église Saint-Martin de Chapaize)
An early Romanesque priory church whose tall Lombard bell tower rises over the countryside west of Tournus.
- Abbey or church
- 56 min from Beaune
- Allow 30 minutes
- Chapaize
€195one way from Beaune with a private driver
At a glance
Getting there
Private driver from Beaune: 56 min by road (68 km), €195 one way for the whole car.
Or add it to our full-day wine tour plus two hours, €700.
Coming by train or plane? Transfers from stations and airports →
About the place
In the village of Chapaize, in the countryside west of Tournus, the church of Saint-Martin is one of the oldest Romanesque churches in Burgundy. Its massive round pillars and plain stonework date from the first half of the 11th century. Its 35-metre bell tower, decorated with Lombard bands, can be seen from far around.
What you will see
Inside, huge cylindrical pillars built of small stones line the nave and carry the vault, a simple and powerful effect. The lean of the north wall can still be seen. Outside, walk round to admire the bell tower, with its paired openings on the two upper levels and its Lombard bands. High on its north face is a column statue, one of the oldest known in the West.
History
The church is the only surviving part of a Benedictine priory founded in the 10th century, which depended on the abbey of Saint-Pierre in Chalon-sur-Saône. Building probably began after the visits of William of Volpiano, a monk and builder from Lombardy, in 1021 and 1023. The nave was built around 1030. The church was listed as a historic monument in 1862, and its surroundings became a protected site in 1941.
In 1543 the walls of the nave were leaning dangerously. The Romanesque vault was replaced with a slightly higher pointed barrel vault, the north aisle was rebuilt and the three apses were enlarged. The work was ordered by the commendatory abbot of Saint-Pierre de Chalon, Niccolò Ridolfi, a grandson of Lorenzo de' Medici, and each intervention was recorded in dated painted friezes.
Planning your visit
Tips for your visit
The church is a place of worship, so visits pause during services. Allow 30 minutes for the church. An easy footpath loop of about 4.5 kilometres, not waymarked, leads to the hamlet of Lancharre, where the restored Romanesque church of a former priory of noble nuns stands. Chapaize combines easily with Tournus, Brancion and Cormatin.
Around here
What to combine with Saint-Martin Church, Chapaize on the same day, nearest first.
Questions
Saint-Martin Church, Chapaize is about 56 min from Beaune by road (68 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €195 for the whole car, up to 4 guests.
Did you know? The roof has no timber frame at all: its stone slabs, called laves, rest directly on the vault, which gives the whole building its solid, mineral look.
Sources
Saint-Martin Church, Chapaize with a private driver
€195 one way from Beaune · up to 4 guests