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Origin and history

The church Saint-Valère de Rives is a 19th-century Catholic church, replaced by the ancient church of the Priory Saint-Vallier dating from about 1100. This priory, located in the Mollard, served as the main place of worship until the end of the 19th century. The construction of the new church was initiated by the Blanchet family, owner of a local stationery, after decades of negotiations with the town hall. In 1893 the municipal council finally authorized its construction, financed by private funds.

The works, led by architect F. Bugey according to the plans of Alfred Berruyer, lasted from 1895 to 1897. The inauguration took place on 10 October 1897. The bells, transferred from the former priory, date from 1696 (replaced in 1911) and 1847. The stained glass windows, made by Gaudin (1926) and the Bégule workshop in Lyon, illustrate some notable episodes of the history of France, while the bell tower was changed after the Second World War.

The church is attached to the parish of Sainte-Croix, comprising several communes of the Voironnais in the diocese of Grenoble-Vienne. It overlooks the Place de la Libération, the historic heart of Rives, and preserves heritage elements such as the narrative stained glass windows and ancient bells. Its architecture and history reflect the influence of local industrial families and the evolution of Catholic worship in the region.

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