Gy-l’Evêque

The Origins of the Village

Gy-l’Évêque is a village nestled in a fertile valley crossed by the Ru de Vallan. It quickly came under the influence of Auxerre, which took advantage of its arable lands for pastures, vineyards, and cereal crops. From the Middle Ages, the forest surrounding Gy-l’Évêque also became a source of revenue and dispute among local lords. Archaeological remains attest to an earlier occupation during Antiquity, including the presence of a prosperous Gallo-Roman agricultural villa.

Although Gy-l’Évêque was a coveted wine-producing village among secular lords, it mostly belonged to the Church, and its parish is one of the oldest in the Yonne. As a strategic location, Gy-l’Évêque was integrated into the episcopal network of Auxerre as early as the 9th century, during the reign of Charles the Bald. In the 14th century, records mention an episcopal property in the village called the “Maison de l’Évêque” (The Bishop’s House). This estate served as a stronghold to protect the lands of the bishopric, as the village itself had no defensive fortifications. At that time, Gy-l’Évêque played an important regional role, as the provost administered justice and collected taxes for the entire southern Auxerrois.

As early as the 12th century, around 1100, the bishops of Auxerre planted vines in the area, and by 1325, an episcopal vineyard was documented in Gy-l’Évêque. Today, the vineyards have disappeared, replaced by cherry orchards and cereal crops.

©Eglise Gy Leveque Ministere De La Culture France Mediatheque Du Patrimoine Et De La Photographie

©Gy Leveque Eglise Rotated|Anastasia Maymou

Saint-Phal Church

Few traces remain of a building older than the current Saint-Phal Church, but it is very likely that a primitive chapel was erected in the 9th century by the bishops of Auxerre when they took possession of the lands of Gy-l’Évêque. The reconstruction of Saint-Phal Church in the 13th century (around 1206) was carried out directly in the Gothic style, under the direct influence of Guillaume de Seignelay, the bishop and builder of Auxerre.

Due to various reconstructions between the 16th and 20th centuries, the architecture of Saint-Phal Church is a composite one: the square north tower dates from the 13th century, the west façade and the base of the side walls date from the 13th and 14th centuries, and the nave’s arches date from the 14th and 16th centuries. As for the west portal, the first level of sculpture features decoration from the 13th century, but unfortunately, the upper part of the portal disappeared in the 17th century. The most recent reconstructions are very present, and a large part of the internal structure dates from the 20th and 21st centuries.

Saint-Phal Church Architecture

Few traces remain of a building older than the current Saint-Phal Church, but it is highly probable that a primitive chapel was erected in the 9th century by the bishops of Auxerre when they took possession of the lands of Gy-l’Évêque. The reconstruction of Saint-Phal Church in the 13th century (around 1206) was carried out directly in the Gothic style, under the direct impulse of Guillaume de Seignelay, the builder bishop of Auxerre.

Due to various reconstructions between the 16th and 20th centuries, the architecture of Saint-Phal Church is composite:

The square north tower dates from the 13th century.
The west façade and the base of the side walls date from the 13th to the 14th century.
The nave’s arches come from the 14th and 16th centuries.
Regarding the west portal, the first level of sculpture features decoration dated to the 13th century, but unfortunately, the upper part of the portal disappeared in the 17th century. The most recent reconstructions are very evident, and a large part of the internal structure dates from the 20th and 21st centuries.

The Collapse

Saint-Phal Church has experienced many destructions over the centuries: the Hundred Years’ War in the 14th century and the Wars of Religion in the 16th century had a huge impact on the village. Saint-Phal Church first collapsed during the capture of Gy-l’Évêque by the Protestants in 1567. The internal structure of the church was then entirely rebuilt shortly after the collapse under the episcopate of Jacques Amyot, bishop of Auxerre. In the 17th century, significant structural renovations were undertaken to stabilize and restore Saint-Phal Church.

On Sunday, December 3, 1924, the church roof collapsed with a loud crash. The roof fall caused major structural and material damage: the choir was destroyed, as well as the main altar and the Renaissance stalls. Miraculously, the west façade and the 13th-century square tower remained standing, and fortunately, no one was inside during the collapse.

Saint-Phal Church was classified as a French Historic Monument in 1925, just one year after the collapse. The classification aimed to quickly protect the ruins of the church and its still-standing 13th-century façade. The remaining liturgical furniture includes a wooden calvary from the 17th century known as “Christ on the Cross” or “Christ of the Nettles.” This 1.73-meter wooden sculpture survived the church collapse. The “Christ of the Nettles” was listed as a Historic Monument in 1989.

The efforts of priests Paul Verrier from Coulanges-la-Vineuse and Jean Meunier led to the creation of the Association of the Christ of the Nettles. This active association finances the work and renovations of Saint-Phal Church. After being exposed to the elements for a long time, the church got a new roof in 1989 thanks to the association. The walls have been restored and the collapsed parts preserved in a shelter. Other restoration works have been started and continue to this day.

©Effondrement De Leglise Ministere De La Culture France Mediatheque Du Patrimoine Et De La Photographie

Saint-Phal

The name of the church is linked to Saint Phal, who was born in Clermont. Saint Phal came from a wealthy family in the 6th century and is depicted above the West entrance portal of the church in Gy-l’Évêque.

Fidolus, canonized as Saint Fale, was a Gaul from the Auvergne region. Captured by Clovis’ army on the lands of Champagne, Fidolus was sold as a slave. Saint Aventin, bishop of Troyes and disciple of Saint Loup of Auxerre, bought Fidolus at the slave market. Fidolus later became the abbot of Montier-la-Celle Abbey, where he died in 540.

The Impluvium Washhouse

Connected to the Ru de Vallan, an abundant spring feeds the washhouse of Gy-l’Évêque. Built starting in 1854, the washhouse is magnificent and features an impluvium basin. Its wooden architecture evokes a cloister, with a paved ambulatory and wooden columns set on stone bases. In the center, a long basin receives fresh, clear water, and at the back, a noisy spring flows over a stone throat. The roof above the entrance door is made in three parts, which gives this building a special charm.

The War Memorial of Gy-l’Évêque

Located opposite the church, it is famous in the region as a “Pacifist” style monument, a very rare category of war memorials in France. Composed of an obelisk and a stone base, it bears two inscriptions carved into the stone: “War on war” on the south side and “Peace among all peoples” on the north side.

The Gy-l’Évêque War Memorial was originally dedicated to World War I, but not to patriotism or “the dead for France”! It reflected the population’s frustration at seeing their young men die one after another. Over one million French soldiers fell on the battlefields of World War I—an unprecedented slaughter commemorated across France by the creation of over 35,000 national war memorials from 1920 onward.

The decision to create the memorial at Gy-l’Évêque was made on February 29 and April 1, 1920. The Prefect of Yonne approved the project on March 14, 1921, and attended its inauguration in 1922.

A controversy arose around the installation of a metal plaque bearing the inscription: “Republican Association of Veterans. War on war.” One year later, this evolved to the inscriptions “War on war” and “Peace among all peoples.” Indeed, in 1923, the municipality of Gy-l’Évêque wanted clearly to express a pacifist stance rather than patriotic fervor, emphasizing that war had killed 23 children of the village.

Unsurprisingly, this was not well received by the Prefecture of Yonne, and a confrontation ensued between the mayor (Mr. Eugène Manevy) and the Prefect. The mayor was taken to court before the cantonal tribunal of Coulanges and was ordered to remove the plaques within eight days! The town hall initially refused but then complied with the court’s decision by removing the controversial plaques — but engraved the two phrases directly into the stone base of the monument! This caused a new controversy, which escalated to the national deputy.

The mayor responded to the new accusations by saying: “I consider that the inscription ‘War on War’ is not seditious. I protest against the judgment ordering its removal, because on many war memorials, Catholic municipalities have placed crosses, and until now, no one has ordered their removal.” His defense must have reached influential levels, because the village officially obtained the legal right to keep the inscriptions on its War Memorial.