Construction of the chapel 1509 (≈ 1509)
Edited by Jean Barthélemy under the original term.
1684
Adding panel
Adding panel 1684 (≈ 1684)
Date on wooden cover.
6 juin 1988
Registration Historic Monument
Registration Historic Monument 6 juin 1988 (≈ 1988)
Official protection of architectural elements.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Chapel, including murals (see AE 380): classification by decree of 20 January 1976
Key figures
Jean Barthélemy - Manufacturer
Built the chapel in 1509.
Origin and history
The chapel Saint-Jean-Baptiste-des-Pananches, located in La Salle-les-Alpes in the Hautes-Alpes, is a historic monument registered since 1988. Its coated masonry walls and tufted door frame reveal a typical 15th century architecture. Two limestone columns, adorned with sculpted capitals representing human heads and foliage, once supported a vault today gone. Two limestone modillons, also carved from human heads, are re-used under the facade window, reflecting the re-use of older architectural elements.
The chapel was built in 1509 by Jean Barthélemy under the original name of the Annunciation, before being dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. The roofing panel, dating back to 1684, attests to post-construction work. Local materials, such as tuf and limestone, as well as carved motifs, reflect the craftsmanship of the time. Owned by the commune, it illustrates the religious and architectural heritage of the Southern Alps.
Classified as a Historical Monument, the chapel is distinguished by its protected elements, including its carved columns and modillons. Its state of conservation and location, reported as "passible" (note 5/10), highlight the challenges of preservation in a mountain environment. Available sources, such as the Merimée and Monumentum database, document its history, while leaving some areas shadowed about its past use or possible subsequent transformations.
