What if you set out, this Thursday, March 28, in the footsteps of Pierre II de Lannoy, Baron of Dampierre and Vaucogne, who died a little over five centuries ago, on February 8, 1523?
This is the first of a dozen meetings proposed by the organizers of the 1st Heritage Spring in Aube, of which here is the complete program.
Meet here in the churches of these two villages in the north of the department.
By introducing visitors to this great family of lords, the Heritage Foundation is launching two donation drives to preserve two works of major interest that they contain.
First, the Dampierre recumbent figure, a funerary sculpture representing Baron de Lannoy, designed by one of the great artists of the time, the Trojan Jacques Bachot.
A work which has suffered greatly from time, but many of the damages can be repaired, notably the nose of the sculpture, which disappeared after the 19th century but documented thanks to a very old photo.
The bill amounts to more than €22,000 to repair, clean and protect the monument from humidity.
Thanks to patronage and aid, €5,000 has already been found.
Read alsoThe tip of a village in the Marne to renovate its church
The other nugget of the visit requires urgent restoration: it is one of the stained glass windows of the Vaucogne church, which represents the Lannoy family.
With a bay dangerously in a state of subsidence, the listed stained glass window had to be removed very quickly to protect it from tragic breakage, before restoring it in the workshop... The bill should this time rise to nearly €29,000.
“The interest of this collection of donations is also to take the opportunity to explain the work of stained glass, in particular thanks to the presence this March 28 of the restorer, Florence Godinot”, underlines Vincent Caputo, departmental delegate of the Foundation heritage in Aube.
The recumbent figure of Dampierre (Aube), which represents Baron de Lannoy, was designed by one of the great artists of the time, the Trojan Jacques Bachot.
It is missing the nose, which disappeared after the 19th century.
Heritage Foundation
“She will explain all the work of restoring this beautiful stained glass window, talking about the use of tools, the nature and the duration of the restoration.
» The public will be able to take advantage of this meeting to ask questions and discover the know-how of the experts.
Most of the time, restoration projects are driven by mayors, eager to save their churches or monuments.
The Heritage Foundation represents for them a means of finding financing solutions for quickly very expensive projects.
Read alsoA mayor of Meurthe-et-Moselle offers his compensation to renovate the village church
“We travel, we discuss with the town hall, often also with the local heritage preservation association, which can help us better understand the project,” explains Vincent Caputo for the Foundation.
“And then we move forward together, based on knowledge of the nature of the work to be done, the financial amount... and we try to build a financing plan, in particular by opening a collection (supplemented by 4 to 5% by the Foundation when the objectives are achieved).
»
A step which often involves a public meeting with residents to explain the issues, with a heritage architect.
With each work, there is always a story to tell.
“Here around this lord of Lannoy who left his mark on the place.
Through the Spring of Heritage, these are the stories that we would like to put in place.
It’s another way of telling the story of Aube,” underlines Vincent Caputo.
Historical, cultural or natural heritage... the Foundation resolutely wishes to open the supported projects to the wider public in all their diversity, perfectly illustrated in the Heritage Spring program: discovery of wild and edible plants from our gardens at the Abbey of Basse-Fontaine, workshops and walks told in the heart of the Forêt d'Orient or even a meeting with the owner of an old mill in Saint-Benoist-sur-Vanne...
The Napoleonic battle of Arcis reconstructed in June
Without forgetting the highlight of the operation, on June 29: the historical reconstruction of the Napoleonic battle of 1814 in Arcis-sur-Aube, with more than 500 extras.
“What could be more symbolic than bringing our common heritage to life on the occasion of spring, which is a hymn to rebirth and life?
», Enthuses Vincent Caputo.
The event also contributes to the attractiveness of the region, while highlighting the importance of patronage in bringing certain places to life.
“Today, we will never have all the necessary funding to contribute, alone, to the rehabilitation of heritage,” recalls Christelle Taillardat, director of the Departmental Tourism Agency.
However, it is our first tourist jewel.
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