Bazoches - Saint-Hilaire

Bazoches is a small village with a population of less than 200. Located in the centre is since the 12th century St. Hilaire, but since the Huguenots looted the church and burned it down in 1569, most parts of the church now are Gothic. The rebuilding of the choir was financed in 1688 by Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, better known as Maréchal de Vauban or even shorter Vauban.

As a military engineer, he participated in each of the wars fought by France during the reign of Louis XIV. He created the most powerful star-shaped bastions and fortifications all around France.

Vauban died in Paris in 1707 and was buried in this church. The grave was destroyed during the French Revolution. The revolutionaries melted the lead coffin to produce bullets. In 1804 the Vauban´s heart was found during renovation works, Napoléon Bonaparte ordered his heart reburied in "Les Invalides" in 1804.