Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint-Jacques d'Orcier Church is a Catholic religious building located in the Haute-Savoie department in the commune of Orcier. It is distinguished by its neo-classical Sardinian architectural style, rare in the region, and is dedicated to Saint James the Minor, a particularity shared only with the collegiate of Sallanches in the diocese of Annecy. It belongs to the parish of Notre-Dame des Hermones and was built between 1845 and 1846, replacing an older building.

The main building, in neo-classical style, is associated with a pseudo-Roman style bell tower, rebuilt in 1876. In 1884, the parish acquired the stained-glass windows of the former church of Perrignier and incorporated them into Orcier. The interior houses contemporary building altars, as well as a hemicycle bedside hall dated 1842. Among the remarkable elements are a Neapolitan chimney frame reused for baptismal fonts, and a statue of Saint James the Minor representing attributes usually associated with James the Major.

The interior decoration has been enriched over time, including a painting by the painter Alfred Swieykowski in the 1980s, and frescoes by Alberto Boldori in the choir in 1928. A modern stained glass window representing Saint James the Minor was added in 2016. Although the church has no objects classified as historical monuments, it remains an architectural and artistic testimony of the 19th century Savoyard religious heritage.

The building reflects the stylistic influences of the Savoy period, marked by reconstructions and beautifications of parish churches. His history is also linked to the transfer of artistic elements between municipalities, as Perrignier's stained glass windows show. Today, it is a point of heritage interest for the local community and visitors, illustrating the evolution of religious and artistic practices in the region.

External links