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Origin and history

The church of the Nativity-de-Notre-Dame, located in the village of Semons (comune of Tupin-et-Semons, Rhône department), is dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin. It belongs to the parish Blessed Frédéric Ozanam in the Land of Condrieu, under the archdiocese of Lyon. Its location overlooking the Rhône valley makes it a visible landmark from the river, marked by a tradition where the boatmen greeted the building of a Ave Maria in the eighteenth century.

A first mention of the church, with a single nave and three apsidioles, dates back to 1699 in parish acts. The current bell tower, accompanied by the presbytery, was built in 1716, as indicated by a foundation plate. The building contains several remarkable elements: a statue of the Virgin attributed to the sculptor Coysevox (classified as a historical monument), stained glass windows by Pierre Campagne (1934), a polychrome wooden statue from the Virgin to the Child from the 16th century, and an 18th century bas-relief representing the baptism of Christ.

The church embodies a local religious and artistic heritage, combining 18th century architecture and works of various periods. Its historical role includes a spiritual function for the boatmen of the Rhône, reflecting the importance of religious buildings as points of reference and devotion in the riverscapes. The statue of Coysevox, a major part of its heritage, highlights its anchoring in French Baroque art.

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