The church at Mandres was the seat of a curacy under the patronage of the Chapter of Langres, the principal decimator of the area.
The old church dates from the 15th century and stood in the middle of the cemetery. It comprised a nave with a small porch, a bell tower, two chapels to the right and left, an adjoining sacristy and a choir at the back. The whole was vaulted and covered in lauze, and was deemed to be in poor condition and too small. As a result, the architect Mangot drew up an estimate on 2 April 1819 to rebuild the entire church, reversing its direction and shifting its axis away from the cemetery. The work was awarded on 29 May 1820.
When the old church was being demolished, an earthen vase filled with a large number of 15th century gold and silver coins was found under the vaults. This treasure was probably hidden there during the unfortunate wars of the reign of Charles VI.
Description :
The church has an elongated plan oriented north (porch) - south (choir).
The nave with its single panelled nave is preceded by a porch with columns framed by a chapel and the stairwell. The single-bay choir is rib-vaulted and ends in a flat chevet. The bell tower adjoins the chevet wall and is crowned by a slate pavilion roof.
Inside, there is a 15th-century Virgin Mary from the Troyes school, listed as a historic monument in 1963. The chandelier and candelabras were donated by Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III.
EGLISE NOTRE-DAME-EN-SA-NATIVITE DE MANDRES-LA-COTE
