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Origin and history

The chapel Saint-Arnould, located in Saint-Chaffrey in the Hautes-Alpes, is a religious building whose origins date back to the 4th quarter of the 12th century, with renovations in the 14th and 15th centuries. Originally it served as a parish church under the name of Saint-Chaffrey, as attested in an act of 1118 citing the churches dependent on the provost of Oulx. Some architectural elements, such as the harpsichords of the south gate or a north capital of the nave, suggest partial construction in the 12th century, although their style may also raise later archaisms. The southern side chapel, on the other hand, is clearly dates from the 15th century.

The nave, covered with a ceiling, contrasts with the vaulted cul-de-four apse and the arched lateral chapel, typical of Gothic. The roofs, now made of sheet metal, retain some stone slabs on the west wall. In 1535, the building lost its parish status in favour of a new church built at the capital, becoming a simple chapel. Until the end of the 19th century, it was still surrounded by a cemetery, and its current bell tower, added around 1980, is a recent addition. Classified as a Historic Monument in 1990, it now belongs to the municipality.

The history of the chapel reflects the evolution of local worship: first major religious center, it becomes a secondary place of devotion after the sixteenth century. Its architecture thus combines Romanesque and Gothic influences, testifying to the liturgical and social transformations of Saint-Chaffrey over nearly five centuries. The sources also mention its precise location at 277 Chemin de Saint Arnould, confirming its current isolation from the village.

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