Church of Saint Sornin

Eglise Saint Sornin is a listed monument from the 15th century, it now houses the Musée des Mariniers.

The former Saint-Sornin church, dating from the 12th century, retains a 14th-century chestnut timber frame, built in a "boat-shaped" style, likely by riverboatmen. Paintings uncovered in the early 21st century adorn the church walls (some dating from the 14th century). This former church now houses a museum, displaying riverboatmen's crosses, old nautical jousting breastplates, and various tools used by Rhône riverboatmen. In one wing of the church-museum are the "mandulons," hundreds of bones, including four mummified bodies, which have been here since the 17th century. For a long time, mystery surrounded these bodies. Were they victims of epidemics? Of the Wars of Religion? It would seem that these bones actually came from a mass grave, where the former "occupants" were placed. The mummified bodies are believed to have been those of deceased individuals transferred here because the cemetery was submerged by a flood of the Rhône River. The specific humidity of this location would have allowed for the natural mummification of these corpses.

Pets allowed : yes

Average visit duration for groups : 1 hours