Proudly perched on a rocky spur, the church of Saint Hippolyte commands a superb panoramic view of the valley over the roofs of the village's old houses. It always seems to be watching the horizon for enemies, as in feudal times. Although the church is considered a Gothic masterpiece, it also reflects all the characteristics of Romanesque art, from the balance of its volumes to the purity of its lines.
Under the porch, several works of art invite you to enter: a semi-circular portal surmounted by a stone statue depicting the martyrdom of St Hippolyte according to Greek legend (15th-16th century), a polychrome stone sculpture from the 16th century and engraved funerary slabs, mentioning ploughmen and woodcutters (Middle Ages).
Inside, this 13th-century Gothic ensemble is entirely rib-vaulted. In the north side chapel is the altarpiece of the martyrdom of Saint Hippolytus, a bas-relief by Antoine Besançon, dating from the second half of the 18th century: 1775. In the Marian chapel (to the south), there is a 16th-century polychrome stone statue of the Virgin and Child.
The church has been listed as a Monument Historique since 21 May 1906. |Collection Pierre et Terroir : Bay-sur-Aube n°6/2001
A unique moment in the year: Every year on 13 August, Saint Hyppolite's Day, the sun rises at 7.10am. On this day, if the weather is fine, the sun's rays shine through the occulus and the stained glass windows of the choir, illuminating the central aisle as far as the entrance door: a unique experience. In the meantime, from 5am, visitors are welcomed with music and storytelling. The event ends with a warm drink.
Eglise Saint-Hippolyte de Bay-sur-Aube
