Eglise
Church
Eglise, located in Annecy-le-Vieux (Département 74), is a medieval landmark built in the Middle Ages. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Church
- Period
- Medieval (11th-15th century)
- Location
- Annecy-le-Vieux, Département 74, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 45.9192, 6.1428
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00118361
Standing on the heights of Annecy-le-Vieux, this twelfth-century Romanesque church captivates visitors with its massive bell tower-porch and refined volumes, faithful witnesses to Savoyard Romanesque art at its height.
History
Nestling in the old town of Annecy-le-Vieux, just a stone's throw from Lake Annecy, whose azure reflections it dominates, the parish church is one of the best-preserved Romanesque monuments in Haute-Savoie. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1908, it embodies with sober elegance the medieval spirituality that permeated the shores of the lake for centuries, long before the town of Annecy established itself as the regional capital. What distinguishes this building at first glance is the remarkable coherence of its volume - rare for a building that has survived nine centuries. The carefully coursed local limestone masonry features a palette of golden greys, sublimated by the alpine light in the morning and late afternoon. The attentive visitor will be able to make out the successive additions and alterations, a veritable architectural stratigraphy that can be read in the joints and courses. The interior reveals the fullness of the Romanesque space: a single nave or aisles, barrel vaults supported by double arches resting on sturdy pillars, and a cul-de-four apse facing east in accordance with liturgical tradition. The light, filtered through the few semi-circular windows, creates a peaceful gloom that has not been altered by the Gothic or Baroque alterations that have taken place in other Savoyard sanctuaries. The natural setting heightens the emotion of the visit: the village of Annecy-le-Vieux retains its fabric of old houses squeezed around the forecourt, and the surrounding Alps provide an imposing backdrop, particularly from the chevet. Photographers and watercolourists regularly come here to capture the superimposition of the Romanesque heritage and the lakeside landscape.
Architecture
The church at Annecy-le-Vieux belongs to the Alpine Romanesque style that flourished in Savoie and neighbouring Piedmont from the mid-12th century onwards. Its layout, typical of rural Savoyard buildings, is organised around a main nave punctuated by double arches resting on squat pillars, extended by a slightly raised choir and a semi-circular apse facing east. The bell tower, a distinctive feature of the region's Romanesque architecture, features twin bays with colonnettes at belfry level, a common motif in the itinerant workshops that spread out from the Lombard Lakes. The materials used reflect local resources: limestone from the Annecy plateau cut in a regular, medium pattern for the load-bearing parts, supplemented with Alpine pebbles bound in lime mortar for the infill. The steeply pitched roof, adapted to the heavy snowfall of Savoy winters, is covered with slate or flat tiles depending on the area. The sculpted modillions adorning the apse cornice are the main exterior decorative feature, featuring grimacing masks, interlacing and a number of animal figures typical of Romanesque bestiary. Inside, the acoustic quality of the barrel vault and the purity of the capitals with their water leaves or geometric interlacing bear witness to a masterful project carried out by experienced masons. A few fragments of wall paintings, partially uncovered during restoration work, give a glimpse of the polychromatic decoration that once covered the walls, reminding us that the apparent austerity of the bare stone is a condition subsequent to successive whitewashes.
Related Figures
Comtes de Genevois — seigneurs du bassin lacustre au XIIe siècle, commanditaires présumés de l'édificeSaint François de Sales (1567-1622) — évêque de Genève résidant à Annecy, figure de la Contre-Réforme ayant dynamisé les paroisses du diocèseSaint Germain d'Annecy — saint local dont le culte est attesté dans la région depuis le haut Moyen ÂgeMaçons lombards des lacs — ateliers itinérants ayant diffusé les techniques et ornements romans en Savoie au XIIe siècleInspecteurs des Monuments Historiques du XIXe siècle — responsables des campagnes de restauration ayant conduit au classement de 1908
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Eglise located?
Eglise is located in Annecy-le-Vieux, Département 74 department, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, France.
When was Eglise built?
Eglise dates back to a period built in the Middle Ages (11th-15th century).
Is Eglise open to visitors?
Eglise is currently closed to visitors.