Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame-la-Blanche de Savasse, a Romanesque building located in the Drôme, depended on the Benedictine priory of Saint-Marcel-lès-Sauzet from the twelfth century. Its construction, probably initiated by Benedictines, reflects their architectural influence in the region. The absence of transept and the presence of three apses make it a rare example of local Provencal Romanesque art.

The church underwent later modifications, such as the enlargement of the southern bays in the 18th century and the addition of a bell tower in the 19th century. These transformations illustrate its adaptation to the liturgical and aesthetic needs of successive epochs. Its inscription in historic monuments in 1926 underscores its heritage value.

Architecturally, Notre-Dame-la-Blanche is distinguished by its vaulted nave in a broken cradle and its collaterals covered with quarter-of-circle. These characteristics, shared with the church of Saint-Marcel-lès-Sauzet, bear witness to a stylistic filiation between the two buildings. Some engraved ornaments soften the overall austerity of the ensemble.

External links