Located on rue Michelet, near the imposing Saint-Bénigne Cathedral in Dijon, France, the Church of Saint-Philibert is not just a place of worship but also a silent witness to centuries of history and architectural evolution. Its past, marked by human interventions and natural transformations, reveals traces of eras spanning from Late Antiquity to the modern period.

Despite its historical significance, Saint-Philibert has not been spared from deterioration. In the 18th and 19th centuries, salt storage in its facilities caused harmful effects, saturating the ground with chlorides that slowly ascended through the structures via capillarity.

In the 1970s, the installation of a heated concrete slab exacerbated the problem by trapping residual salt in the ground, intensifying its impact on the stones and pillars of the building. Although the slab was demolished and various mitigation measures were implemented, the damage—such as stone bursting—persists, challenging conservation efforts.

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General drone view of the operation carried out at the Saint-Philibert church in Dijon. Credit: Christophe Fouquin / INRAP

Saint-Philibert, founded in the second half of the 12th century, stands out as an exceptional example of Romanesque art in Burgundy. Over the centuries, its design evolved with the addition of notable architectural elements: a 15th-century porch modified in the 17th century, a bell tower crowned by a majestic 16th-century spire, and lateral chapels on the north side built in the 18th century.

The church’s floor and surroundings have served as the final resting place for generations of Dijon’s inhabitants. Recent excavations in the nave revealed burials in wooden coffins, dated between the 14th and 18th centuries, aligned in an east-west orientation. The bodies, mostly adults, were buried simply, wrapped in shrouds, and accompanied by few offerings, such as coins and rosaries.

In the transept, an ancient ossuary from the 15th or 16th century was discovered, where the remains of the deceased were reorganized to make room for new burials. Going even further back in time, excavations identified a dalles tombs—stone slab burials—dating from the 11th to 13th centuries, connecting the site to an early Christian community that coexisted with the construction of the current church.

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Overall view of the four sarcophagi attributed to Late Antiquity located at the edge of a north/south wall. Credit: Clarisse Couderc / INRAP

Before the construction of the current Romanesque church, the site housed at least two older ecclesiastical structures. Discoveries made in 1923 included an apse attributed to the 11th century, around which tombs were found, indicating the existence of a cemetery contemporary with this church.

The most recent discovery, however, is even more surprising. Beneath the 11th-century foundations, walls built in opus spicatum—a masonry technique characteristic of the Early Middle Ages—were found, suggesting the presence of a primitive church, possibly from the 10th century.

Additionally, excavations brought to light a series of sarcophagi dating from Late Antiquity and the Merovingian period (6th to 8th centuries). These stone relics were placed atop even older ones belonging to the late Roman Empire. One of them stands out for its sculpted lid, a rarity underscoring the site’s importance as an elite burial center.

Dijon church merovingian roman sarcophagi
Detail of the decoration of the lid of one of the Late Antique sarcophagi. Credit: Clarisse Couderc / INRAP

These sarcophagi were within now-vanished structures, suggesting that the site was occupied by religious or funerary buildings functioning during the transition from Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages.

Today, the Church of Saint-Philibert faces a delicate balance between preserving its historical heritage and mitigating structural damage. Archaeological and restoration efforts, led by the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (Inrap), continue to uncover buried secrets while striving to protect what remains.

However, the persistent impact of salt and the fragility of the stones raise questions about long-term strategies for the building’s conservation.

SOURCES

Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives (INRAP)

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