Breaking and entering

Have you ever tried to open a locked door, then discovering that you had forgotten the key?

Supper at Emmaus - Saint-Julien in Laizy

Depending on the type of door this does not always involve calling a locksmith. With double doors, where one part is bolted with a vertical pin falling into a hole in the floor, whilst the other part is then locked with a key, one can be lucky. Sometimes (but certainly not always!) somebody has forgotten to lower the pin, and in that case it is possible , by pushing gently but firmly against both door parts, to force the catch in the first door out of its hole in the second. If that works, both doors swing open simultaneously.

Capital - Saint-Julien in Laizy

This knowledge was put to good use when I wanted to visit the church in Laizy in the Morvan. The door was locked, but there was sufficient movement in both door panels. After trying and pushing a bit, I pushed a bit harder, and with a pang both doors swung open and I could go inside.
Of course this can and should be classified as breaking and entering, even though not with the intention to steal something. But some churches contain valuables, and of course there could be an alarm attached to the door, or simply, a neighbour could have warned the police. And how do you explain in French that the door opened itself spontaneously when you just leant against it?

Capital - Saint-Julien in Laizy

In view of the above I decided to quickly take the pictures I had come for and after that disappear on the double. I could not close the door properly, but for a casual passer-by it looked as if the door was at least closed.
The interior of the church was more than worth the effort. I have seen quite a few churches in that part of the woods, but Laizy is certainly a pearl in the crown of the Morvan churches.
The moral of this story? Always try whether there is any movement in a door. It will not be the first time that one of us thought that a door was closed, while in reality it was just sticking.

Arcatures - Saint-Julien in Laizy

For a complete series about this successful break-in, click here.

A day-trip to Autun from La Tuilerie de Chazelle is not complete without trying the door of the church in Laizy!