Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The chapel Saint-Blaise de Gras, located in the department of Ardèche, is a 12th century religious building, although some sources evoke reconstruction or a later mention in the 13th century. It is part of an exceptional archaeological site, marked by successive occupations since the 7th century BC, including an Etruscan counter, a Gallo-Greek city, and a Roman then medieval agglomeration called Ugium. These historical strata, visible nearby, reveal alternating phases of prosperity and abandonment, with remains such as a colossal stone wall or the ruins of a Paleo-Christian church dedicated to Saint Vincent.

In the Middle Ages, the site underwent a renaissance under the impulse of the bishop of Arles, lord of the places, who repainted the village as Castelveyre in 1231. The current chapel, dedicated to Saint-Blaise, could be linked to this period of reconstruction. However, his story ended abruptly around 1390, when the billiard Raymond de Turenne definitively destroyed the locality. Despite this violent end, the chapel remains and is finally classified as a historic monument in 1935, thus preserving a portion of this ardèche heritage.

The monument is embedded in a landscape marked by the ponds of Lavaduc and Citis, and its modest architecture contrasts with the strategic importance of the site throughout the centuries. Today it is owned by the municipality of Gras, and bears witness to both medieval piety and the historical stratification of the territory, from Etruscans to modern times. Its listing as historic monuments underscores its heritage value, although its exact location remains approximate according to available sources.

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