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The ambulatory at Bois-Sainte-Marie's 

A unique example in Charolais-Brionnais

The ambulatory at Bois-Sainte-Marie is unique in Romanesque Charolais-Brionnais with the exception of the basilica at Paray-le-Monial.

An ambulatory is a corridor which encircles the sanctuary and gives access to the apsidal chapels.  This arrangement seems to have been used for the first time in the basilica of St Martin at Tours (10th century).

The ambulatory of Bois-Sainte-Marie

But it is during the Romanesque period that it came to be used in many churches, in particular those which were places of pilgrimage. It enabled pilgrims to meditate in front of the relics of the saints, thus offering an alternative or addition to the Carolingian crypt.

The ambulatory of Paray's basilica

By increasing the number of chapels and thus the number of altars, the ambulatory allows for several Masses to be celebrated simultaneously. This arrangement developed mainly in churches run by monks or canons. The presence of the ambulatory at Bois-Sainte-Marie remains a mystery because it does not give access to any chapel, and the church was never run by canons.
Ambulatories were also much in favour in the great Gothic cathedrals erected in the 13th century.

 
 

To carry on with the tour

  • Less than 5 km

  • — Drée's castle :
    Open May to October
    Go South, in La Clayette's direction

  • Less than 10 km

  • — Church of Sainte Avoye
    Open May to September
  • — La Clayette's castle :
    Not visitable
    Go South, in La Clayette's direction
  • — Romanesque church of Briant :
    Go North, in Saint Christophe-en-Brionnais' direction

  • Tourist office

  • La Clayette,
    3 route de Charolles
    Tél : 03 85 28 16 35
 

More info to carry on the tour on the Bourgogne du Sud's website

 

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