Église Saint-Martin

In 1646, Hélène de Chastellux founded the nearby Visitandines convent. Its chapel, built in 1660, has the shape of two buildings at right angles: the Ladies' Chapel and the nave reserved for the faithful.

If during the French Revolution the building served as a remand center, barracks or factory, in 1804, it resumed its religious function and became the second parish church of Avallon under the name of Saint-Martin Church.

In 1829, the bell tower was transferred from the roof of the Ladies Chapel to that of the current nave. Proving too small as a parish church, the building underwent major transformations in 1850...

In 1840, Father MUARO, founder of the Abbey of Pierre-qui-Vire, then parish priest of Saint-Martin, installed the reliquary of Saint-Clement, the shrine and the Main Altar.

Despite all these construction restarts, the whole Church remains homogeneous, recalling the vaults of Saint-Vorles in Châtillon-sur-Seine or that of the Abbey of Fontenay-près-Montbard,

(Extracts from bulletin n°3 of the “Friends of old AVALLON”)

A must-see structure on the Frog Tour in Avallon. The glass ornaments in the altar area are particularly impressive.

Saint Martin, to whom the church in Avallon is dedicated, is - along with Saint Nicholas - probably one of the most popular saints of all. The memorial day of the former officer in the Roman army is November 11th. On the night after the famous “parting of the coat,” when he leaves half of his army cloak to a freezing beggar, Jesus Christ appears to him in a dream. He then converted to Christianity and was later elected bishop of Tours (France) - initially against his will.