The building history of Saint-Denys Church spans from the 13th century to the end of the 15th century. Local building styles and a carriage-riding activity also give your trip some specific themes: different types of limestone are used in houses and farmsteads, and a carriage ride takes you through the surrounding area on the northern edge of the Morvan.
Saint-Denys Church: Building Phases and Floor Plan
The nave, choir and right-hand side chapel of the church date from the 13th century. The side aisle and bell tower were built at the end of the 15th century. This distinguishes two building phases: the older sections date from the 13th century, while the side aisle and tower were added later.
The building has a rectangular plan. Its layout comprises a nave, a right-hand side aisle, a single-nave choir and a two-bay chapel. The bell tower stands above the first bay of the side aisle. A bay is a distinct section of a building; the term “two-bay” therefore describes the chapel as comprising two such sections. These architectural features distinguish the overall floor plan from the individual parts of the church.
Notre-Dame-du-RĂ©confort Abbey
Notre-Dame-du-RĂ©confort Abbey was founded in 1235 by Mahaut de Courtenay, Countess of Nevers. Pope Innocent IV consecrated the abbey church in 1246. The foundation and consecration are two clearly dated milestones in its history, eleven years apart.
Of the abbey’s 13th-century buildings, only the chapter house and sacristy remain. The chapter house has six rib vaults supported by corbels and two central columns. The number of vaults and the supports described give a concrete impression of the room’s architectural layout. Together with the building history of Saint-Denys, the abbey offers a second perspective on architectural history, with its own surviving structures and chronology.
Building Materials and Rural Character
Houses and farmsteads in Saizy are built using locally quarried coarse-grained fossiliferous limestone alongside white limestone. White limestone is used, among other things, for door and window surrounds, corner stones and cornices. Examples of this building style can be found in the hamlets of Vaux and NĂ©ron. The materials and their uses make the rural architecture tangible through its individual features, rather than describing it only in general terms as agricultural.
The history of the landscape also offers a distinct perspective on the building styles. The slopes were once covered with vineyards; however, Saizy’s architecture is shaped more by livestock farming and mixed agriculture than by those former vineyards. Thus, the former vineyards represent the history of the slopes, while livestock farming and mixed agriculture have had a stronger influence on the architecture.
Carriage Rides in the Surrounding Area
Attelage Randonnée Morvan offers carriage rides and carriage excursions from Saizy. The activity takes you through the surrounding area on the northern edge of the Morvan, along quiet paths through hedgerow landscapes and forests, and beside the Canal du Nivernais. It brings together a range of landscape features without assuming a specific ride duration or route.
Before a guided carriage ride, participants can help prepare, harness and hitch up the horse. The activity therefore also includes taking part before the ride itself. If you plan to take this carriage ride, check the specific arrangements before your trip; details of the offer may change.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Millay, Saint-Martin-Du-Puy, Cossaye, Saint-Vérain, Pougny, Montaron, Varennes-Lès-Narcy, Cercy-La-Tour.
For the overview of the wider region: Nièvre.
