Basilique Saint-Savinien de Sens, basilica located in Yonne, in France
The Basilique Saint-Savinien de Sens is a Romanesque church built around 1068 in eastern Sens, featuring thick stone walls, rounded arches, and a simple rectangular nave with four sections. Beneath the church lies a 7th-century crypt, while inside the transept is fully covered with a barrel vault and decorated with carved leaf capitals.
Construction began around 1068 under Baudoin and his wife Pétronille, replacing a much older sacred site with roots in the 7th century. The building survived fires and warfare, faced destruction during the French Revolution, but was restored through the 19th century until approximately 1915.
The basilica honors Saint Savinien, Sens's first bishop, whose veneration has remained central to local faith for centuries. Today it serves as a space where the community gathers to pray and remember, keeping alive the connection between present-day worshippers and the medieval past.
The basilica is typically closed to the public and can only be entered through guided tours organized by the local tourism office. Check ahead of your visit, as access requires advance arrangement and tours are offered on a limited schedule.
Inside the crypt, visitors encounter not only early Christian inscriptions carved into stone, but also a mysterious blood stain on the altar stone that local tradition links to Saint Savinien himself. This unexplained mark continues to intrigue visitors and remains one of the site's most puzzling features.
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