Water, Stone, Vine...
The exterior
The exterior of Eglise Saint Pierre is a blend of Gothic and Renaissance styles. The Gothic choir, backed by thick buttresses, is crowned by a Burgundian-style cornice.
The south facade is in pure Italian Renaissance style: upper galleries, neoclassical columns and capitals, octagonal lantern, entablature friezes decorated with finely worked foliage. The windows in the small portal are in keeping with the trompe l'oeil aesthetic in vogue at the time. The gargoyles add a Gothic touch to this central part of the church.
The less elaborate north facade also contains Renaissance elements. On this façade, pilasters frame a classical portal whose opening has been bricked up. A cartouche contains a long inscription in Latin and French relating to the laying of the portal's foundation stone on October 1, 1590.
Three elements are particularly interesting in terms of height. The buttress to the south of the main window ends in a platform supporting a clock. The clock has existed since the 16th century, and the current aedicula dates from the second half of the 18th century.
The same buttress bears an elegantly haunted statue that appears to date back to the 12th century. This figure, holding a book in his hand and wearing a large bonnet, is named Michomer, an Irish monk and companion of St. Germain d'Auxerre, who died in 444 at the château de Tonnerre and is buried in the vicinity of Saint Pierre.
On one of the bell tower's northwest-facing buttresses, a statue can be seen depicting a warrior protecting himself with a round shield, adorned with a pontifical head. This little 16th-century figure has been christened "Griboudin" by popular tradition: in the days of the Compagnonnage, workers went to see Griboudin before their tour de France. He symbolized strength and hope, and was considered a protector by the Compagnons, just as St Vincent was for the winegrowers.
Presentation and history of Tonnerre
Tonnerre first appeared in Roman times as Tornodurum, meaning "fortress". For the Lingons, it was the capital of the Pagus tornodorensis. Here, in the Armançon valley, the County of Tonnerre was created, and served as a crossing point between Paris and Dijon, at a time when the King of France had designs on the Duchy of Burgundy. [read more]
Tonnerre Town Hall
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