Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Montrésor Church

The Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Montrésor Church is a former collegiate church located in the city of Montrésor, part of the Indre-et-Loire department in France. Founded in 1521 by Imbert de Batarnay, Lord of Montrésor, as a family burial place and devoted to St. John the Baptist, it was immediately elevated to the rank of collegiate church, housing a chapter of five, then twelve, canons. Imbert de Batarnay died before construction was completed, but his body was finally interred some time later. From 1700, with the creation of the parish of Montrésor, it took on the function of parish church. At the time of the French Revolution, when the chapter of canons had been greatly reduced over the previous century, the last canons dispersed, but the church retained its parish function, which continues into the 21st century, despite being looted and seriously damaged in 1793. The church has a rather original Lorraine cross plan. While its architecture reflects the late Gothic period, its interior and exterior decoration bear the imprint of the early French Renaissance. The church has undergone many restorations and repairs, notably in the second half of the 19th century, under the impetus of the Branicki family, and especially of Xavier Branicki, mayor of Montrésor from 1860 to 1870 and generous patron of the community. The restoration of the Batarnay tomb is one of the most symbolic interv

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