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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The chapel Saint-André-et-Sainte-Lucie du Grand-Parcher, located in Vallouise-Pelvoux in the Hautes-Alpes, is a religious building built mainly in the 17th and 18th centuries, with additions in the 19th century. Its coarsely squared grey limestone walls contrast with the tufted windows, while its interior is distinguished by two arched spans and a wooden stand. A bell tower with a bay dominates the anterior façade, covered with a padigeon like the interior. Two sundials, dated 1718 and engraved on the east and south walls, as well as graffiti of 1741, testify to its rich history.

The interior painted decoration, probably made in 1841, corresponds to the partial date "18[4.]" visible on the façade above the door. The altar painting, dated 1626, attests to the ancient presence of the chapel as early as the seventeenth century. The protected elements include sundials (registered in 1995) and the chapel itself (registered in 1997), now owned by the municipality. Its modest but characteristic architecture reflects local traditions of Alpine religious construction.

The ground and cut sandstones, protruding from the gable wall, add a rare decorative touch for this type of rural building. The chapel, although discreet, illustrates the evolution of artistic and religious practices in the Southern Alps, between architectural simplicity and progressive enrichments. Its present state, combining traces of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, makes it a valuable testimony of the Alpine heritage.

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