Saint-Michel Church in Dijon

The first mention of the church of Saint-Michel is found in the archives of the Abbey of Saint-Etienne and dates from about the XI century. The message says that the church was erected in the cemetery and dedicated to St. Michael, who, according to Christian tradition, leads the soul to God at the hour of death. After some time, the Basilica of Saint-Michel became a parish church and soon became too small for many parishioners. Then the abbot Garnier de Maia of Saint-Etienne Abbey decided to build a larger temple in the Romanesque style. In 1020, the bishop of Dijon consecrated a new church.

The church existed almost until the end of the XV century, but gradually dilapidated. And in August 1499, the mayor of Dijon gave permission to reconstruct the church. The work was led by a local architect named Louis Gilbert. The result was a majestic building with a picturesque, exciting and interesting facade. It harmoniously combines Gothic and Renaissance - two trends characteristic of this historical period. This combination of two architectural styles is called international Gothic and is characteristic of the architecture of Burgundy, which in the XIV-XV centuries was influenced by Italy and gravitated to ancient forms.