Epiry’s history can be read through three distinct buildings: the fortified Tour Vauban, the Église Saint-Denis and the Chapelle Saint-Élymond. Each has its own focus. The tower links an early construction history with the memory of Vauban; at Saint-Denis, references to an older donjon and a statue come together; the chapel represents a distinct period of construction, mural paintings and a historical pilgrimage tradition. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Epiry, this distinction can help you pinpoint the cultural and historical focus of your destination.

Tour Vauban: fortified donjon and the memory of Vauban

The Tour Vauban was built by Pierre de Basso at the beginning of the 15th century. It is a fortified donjon and is associated with the memory of Vauban. Its construction and its connection to Vauban belong to different levels: the first detail places the building in time and attributes it to a person, while the second describes the memory with which it is associated. By decree of 23 February 2010, the tower was listed as a historic monument. This later date refers to the listing, not to the construction period. Thus, when considering the building, its form as a fortified donjon, its early construction and its connection to Vauban all come together.

Église Saint-Denis: donjon, church and statue

The Église Saint-Denis is located in the area of a former fortified donjon dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. The present-day church is thought to have been built around 1600. This approximate date should be distinguished from the donjon’s earlier history. The Église contains a stone statue of Saint Denis, created in 1611. The year 1611 dates the statue, not necessarily the church building. The location, presumed construction period and date of the statue’s creation are distinct historical points of reference that you can consider separately during a cultural and historical stay in Epiry.

Chapelle Saint-Élymond: dimensions, paintings and pilgrimage tradition

The Chapelle Saint-Élymond is a building measuring twelve by six metres at the lieu-dit « Chandelier »; the site is bounded by the Yonne. The chapel dates from the late 15th or early 16th century. The altar mensa and remnants of mural paintings support this approximate dating. Above the altar in the second sanctuary is a mural depicting a Pietà and a bishop making a donation. The structural evidence for the dating and the figures depicted belong to different aspects of the description. Historically, people made pilgrimages to the chapel to seek relief from respiratory illnesses; this tradition is part of its recorded religious history.

Which historical focus suits your trip?

To choose a cultural and historical focus, it helps to distinguish between construction history, art and traditional use. The Tour Vauban links a fortified donjon with the memory of Vauban. At Saint-Denis, a former donjon, the church’s approximate date and a statue dated to 1611 are all part of the picture. Saint-Élymond combines a connection to the landscape with mural paintings and a historical pilgrimage tradition. This lets you choose Epiry according to which of these subjects interests you most, without combining the different construction periods and layers of memory into a single story.

Discover more destinations: Billy-Sur-Oisy, Moraches, Saint-Vérain, Marigny-l'Église, Saincaize-Meaucé, Saint Saulge, Toury-sur-Jour, Pougues-Les-Eaux.

See the regional travel overview: Nièvre.