Located in southern Burgundy, Sennecey-le-Grand bears the marks of a long and layered history dating back to antiquity. Originally known as Seneciacum, the town took shape during the Roman era, along a secondary road connecting the major centers of the Saône Valley. Its favorable location—at the crossroads of Chalon-sur-Saône and Tournus—allowed Sennecey-le-Grand to become a modest but enduring local center, whose built heritage still reflects the rhythms of rural and religious life through the centuries.
The Sennecey Heritage Association aims to promote all actions aimed at raising awareness of this cultural heritage and the elements associated with it.
The association has three principles: protecting history, promoting heritage, and restoring heritage.
The heritage of Sennecey-le-Grand includes churches, chapels, wash houses, fountains,
crosses, calvaries, wells, pond and remains of the old castle of the lords of Sennecey
(on whose site the Parish church was built in 1830).
SENNECEY-LE-GRAND
Historical Portrait of a Small Burgundian Town
LOCATION
LANDMARK
The architectural heart of the town is the Church of Saint-Julien, an 11th-century Romanesque building. Its simple yet harmonious proportions and sculpted capitals illustrate both the spiritual austerity and artistic refinement of early Burgundian religious architecture. Around it developed a dense network of parish buildings and devotional markers, such as the numerous wayside crosses and calvaries, most of which were erected in the 17th and 18th centuries as a testament to faith and community protection.
MATERIAL CULTURE
Beyond its religious monuments, Sennecey-le-Grand preserves vestiges of daily life that shed light on the material culture of its inhabitants. The town and its surrounding hamlets are home to stone wells, wash houses, and public fountains, which were once essential places for social interaction and hygiene. Most of these structures have been restored and bear witness to the ingenuity of local craftsmanship and the importance of water management in pre-industrial Burgundy.
MEDIEVAL RULES
Traces of ancient fortifications and noble houses also recall Sennecey's medieval role as a fortified town and market center under the protection of local lords. While the town never achieved the renown of Chalon or Tournus, the continuity of its settlements and the preservation of its religious and civic monuments offer a valuable insight into the evolution of urban life in the heart of Burgundy.
TODAY'S LIVES
Today, Sennecey-le-Grand presents itself as a true living repository of regional history — a place where sacred architecture, utilitarian structures and the rural landscape together tell the long dialogue between faith, community and environment in the fabric of provincial France.
THE ASSOCIATION
The association was originally founded in December 2015 to promote the Romanesque church of Saint-Julien and to seek funding for the creation of liturgical furnishings. However, after several meetings with the Sennecey town hall and the tourist office, it was decided that the association would not limit itself to promoting a single building but would extend its scope to the entire heritage of Sennecey.
The association pursues several main objectives:
PROTECTION OF HISTORY
Protecting history means preserving the physical, cultural, and social elements that reflect a community’s past — so that future generations can understand their roots. This involves:
1. Safeguarding architectural monuments (churches, bridges, old farms, chapels, fountains, etc.).
2. Recording and maintaining oral traditions and local customs.
3. Archiving historical documents, photos, and maps.
4. Promoting awareness and respect for heritage among residents and visitors.
PROMOTION OF HERITAGE
Promoting heritage means making the cultural and historical richness of a place known, appreciated, and experienced — by both locals and visitors. It’s not only about conserving old monuments; it’s about sharing their stories, awakening curiosity, and creating a sense of pride. This is done by :
1. Public events and cultural activities.
2. Publication and media
3. Educational outreach
4. Collaboration and partnership
5. Community participation
RESTORATION OF HERITAGE
Restoring heritage means repairing, conserving, and sometimes reconstructing buildings or objects of historical, cultural, or architectural value — while respecting their original form, materials, and spirit. The goal is to extend its life and preserve authenticity. This is done by:
1. Identifying and prioritizing sites
2. Planning and fundraising
3. Technical restoration work
4. Documentation and transparency
5. Community involvement
THE TEAM
In 2019, the association became Sennecey Patrimoine. The association is managed by an executive committee comprising a president, a treasurer, a secretary, and an assistant secretary. It has an 11-member Board of Directors. Approximately forty members participate in the association's activities.
Mrs Jean-Claude NICOLAS
Secretary
Email : jc.nicolas71@wanadoo.fr
Mrs Isabelle MENELOT
Assistant Secretary
Email : camille.menelot@sfr.fr
Phone : 07 77 91 46 08
CONTACT
President : Mrs. Michelle Belin
Address : 8 rue de l'église Saint-julien 71240 – Sennecey-le-Grand
Phone : 06 89 91 20 86 (president)
Email: contact@sennecey-patrimoine.fr
Website: https://www.sennecey-patrimoine.fr/
HERMITAGE
A hermitage is a place where a hermit lives in isolation, usually for religious retreat. The main purpose of a hermitage is for solitary spiritual life. A hermitage has key characteristics like:
- It is in a remote and quiet location.
- It has a simple architectural style.
- It is associated with prayer, solitude and religious life.
- Sometimes it has a small chapel attached.
At least one hermitage is confirmed in Sennecey-le-Grand i.e. the Ermitage Saint-Claude.
CASTLE
A castle is a large fortified residence built mainly for defense and power. The main purpose of a castle is for protection and authority. A castle has key characteristics like:
- It has thick stone walls and defensive features (towers, battlements, narrow openings).
- It is the residence of the nobles, the lords, or military leaders.
- Its typical location is in strategic hill or village border.
- It controls surrounding territory.
Up to know there are three castles in the community of Sennecey‑le‑Grand.
WASHHOUSES AND FOUNTAIN
The function of the washhouse was recognized as early as 1630, according to the historical dictionary of the French language. However, it was only at the end of the 18th century that washhouses appeared in response to a need for hygiene following the recurring epidemics that decimated the population.
Each hamlet in our commune has its washhouse, a quintessential social space where women gathered to do laundry and exchange all the latest village news.
THE CROSSES
From the 11th century onwards, crosses were erected at the entrances to towns and villages, at crossroads, in squares and in cemeteries. Crosses and calvaries, testifying to the impact of Christianization and the fervor of the Christian faith, gained considerable importance in the 15th and 16th centuries. The expansion continued until the revolution, a tragic period during which many of these monuments were destroyed. But in the 19th century, with the return of religious practice, new crosses were erected.
Sennecey has no fewer than 12 crosses or calvaries spread across various strategic locations in the town.
CHURCHES AND CHAPELS
As early as 910, William of Aquitaine founded Cluny Abbey at a pivotal moment in the religious and artistic history of the Western Middle Ages. The new Abbey promoted the reform of the Benedictine Rule and, in a short time, created a vast network of monastic dependencies and affiliated houses, thus becoming one of the richest and most powerful monasteries in the Christian world.
Raoul Glaber, a monk and chronicler of the first millennium, said of this period: "It was as if the world itself had shaken itself and, shedding its antiquity, had clothed itself on all sides in a white robe of churches".
NEWS
PARTNERS
SENNECEY-LE-GRAND TOWN HALL
HERITAGE FOUNDATION
SENNECEY-LE-GRAND TOURIST OFFICE
SENNECEY-LE-GRAND TOWN HALL
HERITAGE FOUNDATION
SENNECEY-LE-GRAND TOURIST OFFICE
JOIN US
President : Mrs. Michelle Belin
Address : 8 rue de l'église Saint-julien 71240 – Sennecey-le-Grand
Phone : 06 89 91 20 86 (president)
Email: contact@sennecey-patrimoine.fr
Website: https://www.sennecey-patrimoine.fr/
MEMBERSHIP
If you wish to send it by post, download the membership form using the button below and return it along with your check to the following address:
Association Sennecey Patrimoine
8 rue de l’Eglise Saint Julien
71240 SENNECEY-LE-GRAND
BECOME A VOLUNTEER
To become a volunteer, you must download the form, print it and send it completed with all your information to the following managenent address or by email to the following email address.
MANAGEMENT ADDRESS
Association Sennecey Patrimoine
8 rue de l’Eglise Saint Julien
71240 SENNECEY-LE-GRAND
E-MAIL ADDRESS
Mrs Michelle BELIN
President
Email : contact@sennecey-patrimoine.fr
Phone : 06 89 91 20 86
Mr Daniel BERT
Treasurer
Email : bertdaniel03@gmail.com
Phone : 06 08 05 35 06
MAKE DONATION
The Sennecey Heritage Association, a partner of the Town Hall and the Tourist Office, is involved in numerous projects for the preservation and restoration of the town's cultural heritage.
PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION PROJECTS
1. Restoration of the statues in the Romanesque church of St. Julien.
2. Creation of liturgical furnishings.
3. Preservation of the stained-glass windows in the Parish church
HOW TO HELP
You can help us carry out these projects by making a donation to the association. As it has been recognized as a public interest organization since 2020, all donations are eligible for a tax reduction of 66% of the amount given, up to a limit of 20% of taxable income. A tax receipt is automatically sent to each donor.
DONATION FORM
Download the donation form using the button below and return it completed along with your check to the following address:
Association Sennecey Patrimoine
8 rue de l’Eglise Saint Julien
71240 SENNECEY-LE-GRAND
USEFULL CONTACTS
Mrs Michelle BELIN
President
Email : contact@sennecey-patrimoine.fr
Phone : 06 89 91 20 86
Mr Daniel BERT
Treasurer
Email : bertdaniel03@gmail.com
Phone : 06 08 05 35 06
Mrs Jean-Claude NICOLAS
Secretary
Email : jc.nicolas71@wanadoo.fr