Église Saint-Anatoile de Salins-les-Bains, Romanesque church in Salins-les-Bains, France.
Church of Saint Anatoile is a Romanesque building in Salins-les-Bains featuring a carved wooden portal on its facade. Two Gothic chapels from the 16th century complement the Romanesque structure and show different architectural periods.
An initial chapel was built in the 6th century over Saint Anatoile's tomb and later developed into a significant church. In 1024, Hugh I of Salins elevated it to collegiate status, changing its role in the region.
The church preserves the memory of Saint Anatoile, whose veneration has shaped the town since ancient times. Visitors can sense the religious atmosphere that this local saint has created over the centuries.
The interior holds a historical organ built between 1866 and 1880 by Joseph Merklin and later restored to its original sound. Visitors should allow time to examine the fine details of the wooden portal and the different chapel areas.
The bell tower was originally a defense tower and was integrated into the church structure in 1699 before a fire in 1826 forced its rebuilding. This military conversion is unusual and shows the site's strategic importance in the past.
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