Eglise Saint-Etienne, Gothic church in central Dijon, France.
The Eglise Saint-Etienne is a church in central Dijon that blends architectural styles from different centuries. Its facade features classical columns in Ionic and Corinthian styles, while medieval buttresses reinforce the structure and a white wall separates the main nave from the transept.
Founded in the 11th century by abbot Garnier de Mailly, the church was rebuilt from 1488 under abbot Richard Chambellan after the bell tower collapsed on 30 January 1487; the choir and crossing rib vaults survive from that campaign. On 4 July 1671 the nave vaults fell, and abbot Claude Fyot rebuilt the nave and transepts in Gothic style over seven years, with his arms carved on the choir keystones. The Jesuit-style stone facade by Martin de Noinville followed between 1718 and 1723; the church was listed as a monument historique in 1862.
The church is named for Saint Stephen, the first martyr, to whom the high altar was consecrated; the parish altar was dedicated to Saint Medard. Since 2007 the building has housed the Musée Rude and the Colette library, along with cultural services including the documentation centre of the Musée des Beaux-Arts. The abbots' tomb lies in the crypt beneath the choir.
The former church stands on Place Saint-Étienne, a short walk from the Palais des Ducs and the cathedral Saint-Bénigne. The entrance is on the classical west facade, where a blue "TAXI" sign marks the left door; a green road sign nearby points to "Toutes directions". The building now houses the musée Rude and the bibliothèque Colette, so access follows the opening hours of these cultural services.
The facade's carved tympanum showing the stoning of Saint Stephen was moved to the portal of Dijon Cathedral, and the stone busts of the twelve Apostles by Jean Dubois now stand on the cathedral nave pillars. The abbé Claude Fyot, who died in 1721 aged 91, was buried in the crypt beneath the choir.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,553 contributors worldwide.