Saint Pantaléon Church

You’re now standing in front of Saint Pantaleon Church. Historical records suggest that a synagogue once stood here, followed in the 12th century by a wooden church dedicated to the martyr Pantaleon. According to Christian tradition, Pantaleon was a physician celebrated for his piety and miraculous healings. He was tortured and eventually beheaded for refusing to renounce his faith, and is now revered as the patron saint of the sick and of doctors. Over time, the wooden structure was replaced with stone, and the church was repeatedly expanded and transformed. During the Renaissance, it became the parish of a wealthy district, and prosperous merchants filled it with sculptures that now form an exceptional collection, turning Saint Pantaleon Church into a true museum of Champagne statuary. Step inside, look up, and let yourself be drawn in by the soaring timber-framed ceiling.Also, take a moment to admire the stunning grisaille stained glass windows. The church has been a listed historic monument since 1862. Just behind you, the magnificent Renaissance-style façade with its two pointed turrets hides the beautiful Vauluisant Museum. Entirely dedicated to Troyes’ textile heritage, the museum stands on the site of a former 12th-century abbey, Notre-Dame de Vauluisant — which gave it its name. That original structure was destroyed in a fire in the 16th century and replaced by the elegant 17th-century building you see today. The city purchased it in 1930 and used it as an annex to the Fine Arts Museum. After a renovation in the 1950s, it became a space for exhibitions highlighting the history of clothing and knitwear, as well as housing collections from the Troyes Historical Museum, featuring religious artworks mainly from the 16th century. There is an entry fee, but it gives you the chance to explore the interior of one of the few stone buildings in Troyes from that period.