The Romanesque church of Champ-le-Duc represents the oldest religious building in the provostship of Bruyères and is considered one of the major Romanesque churches in the Vosges.
A heritage jewel
Likely built in the third quarter of the 12th century , the church is one of the first and most important in the Vologne valley, as is the village that surrounds it, since it pre-existed the town of Bruyères.
The Church of the Assumption of Our Lady in Champ-le-Duc is a Romanesque building constructed on the site of a purported 9th-century villa, the foundation of which is attributed to Emperor Charlemagne himself, who is said to have hunted in the area. The church has undergone several restorations, in the 18th century, after the Second World War, and again at the end of the 20th century following a fire. The building has been listed as a historical monument since March 7, 1908.
The church houses remarkable furnishings , protected as historical monuments dating mainly from the 18th century, in particular the organ, attributed to Nicolas Dupont, built in 1781, the tomb altar, the tabernacle and the baptismal font.
An evolving architecture
The church, in the Germanic Romanesque style, made of crystalline pink sandstone from the Vosges quarries of Fiménil, is erected on a granite mound.
Built on a basilica plan in the shape of a Latin cross, the church consists of a nave with three main bays, flanked by side aisles also without vaults. The transept is raised five steps above the nave due to the slope of the granite rock.
The church, partly burned down by the Swedes in 1636, required numerous restorations over the following centuries , thanks in particular to the support of the Chapter of Remiremont.
One of the most famous priests of Champ-le-Duc was Monseigneur Saumier, archbishop “in partibus” of Caesarea. He intervened in particular with the chapter of Remiremont to finance the reconstruction of the nave in the 1720s.
We invite you to consult the website of the Association Racines de Bruyères et sa Région, in order to discover in detail the history and the architectural description of the building.
An association to support cultural development
La Dame de Champ is a non-profit organization (under the French law of 1901) whose aim is to promote the Romanesque church of Champ-Le-Duc and to safeguard its heritage . It was created on January 1, 2009.
Composed of volunteers united by the same desire to promote the Romanesque church of Champ-Le-Duc, the association organizes concerts every year . Diverse and varied groups, both French and international, perform and take advantage of the church's magnificent acoustics .
It is thanks to visitors and concert-goers that the church of Champ-Le-Duc will continue to exist, you who may discover it for the first time or you who come back to charm your eyes and ears once again.
Visit the Romanesque church
Free tours of the church from May to September for the general public.
Guided tours available for groups all year round – contact the Bruyères Vallons des Vosges Tourist Office – 03.29.50.51.33
