The Ru de Collemiers runs through the village, whose history spans from the construction of its medieval church to the events of 1940. Travellers interested in local architectural and commemorative history will find several specific topics to explore in Collemiers: the stream, Saint-Martin Church, Place des Dix and Villa Henri. These landmarks reveal a broad sweep of history, from the church’s construction beginning in the 12th century to a large residence built in the late 19th century.
Saint-Martin: A history of construction in several phases
Construction of Saint-Martin Church began in the 12th century. The choir and apse date from the 13th century; the nave was remodelled in the first third of the 16th century. The church is dedicated to Saint Martin. Its construction history is therefore not marked by a single date, but by several successive periods.
One particularly precisely dated work of art is the stained-glass window depicting Calvary, also known as the Crucifixion, created around 1530. It is attributed to a design by Jean Cousin. The church’s furnishings also include the bell Marie-Toussainte, which was baptised on 1 August 1695. During a restoration in 1916, a round medallion depicting the Charity of Saint Martin was probably set into the base. This detail adds a later restoration phase to the building’s history; its interpretation remains subject to the stated likelihood.
The timeline offers a concrete way to explore the church: the start of construction, changes to the nave, the window dating from around 1530 and the bell’s documented baptism are distinct historical points of reference. Those especially interested in architecture or sacred art can consider these aspects as separate chapters rather than condensing them into a single building phase.
Memories of 1940
Several named places are also connected with the local history of 1940. That year, Maison du Général at 6, rue Haute housed André Malraux and ten companions during their imprisonment in Collemiers. In the summer of 1940, Malraux also turned a house used to accommodate prisoners in Collemiers into a centre for reflection. According to a local eyewitness account, this house was called Maison des Dix.
Place des Dix commemorates the group of ten prisoners who shared their wartime experience in Collemiers; the square became a symbol of their shared experience. Its name thus points beyond a simple place name to a specific local memory. Maison du Général, Maison des Dix and Place des Dix are each distinct named landmarks in the history of the village.
A residence from the late 19th century
Villa Henri offers another perspective on the history of the area’s buildings. It is a large residence built towards the end of the 19th century at the initiative of Parisian florist Henri Chénier. The contrast with the church, whose construction began in the Middle Ages, is clear: Collemiers has historical landmarks from very different periods side by side. The biographical connection is also different, as Henri Chénier’s initiative forms part of the villa’s story.
A transport link to factor into your plans
On-demand city buses connect Collemiers with the railway station and the town centre. This connection may be useful when planning your trip if you want to include the station and centre in your plans. As these are on-demand city buses, it is best to check the current service before travelling. This lets you factor the available connection into your plans without assuming fixed departure times or a specific frequency.
Discover more destinations: Yrouerre, Jussy, Saint-Valérien, Pourrain, Périgny, Druyes-Les-Belles-Fontaines, Jully, Saint-Clément
For an overview of the wider area: Yonne.
