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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The chapel Sainte-Marie-Madeleine-des-Escoyères, located in the hamlet of Escoyères in Arvieux (Hautes-Alpes), finds its origins in the 12th century with a medieval priory. The latter, attached to the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Boscodon in the 15th century, was destroyed during the wars of religion in 1574. The present chapel, rebuilt in the seventeenth century, bears the date of 1700 engraved on its western door, confirming its completion at this time.

The building features a typical Queyras architecture: larch shingle roof, vaulted nave and cul-de-four choir. Its originality lies in the two tympanos of its doors, resulting from a Gallo-Roman monolith engraved with an inscription mentioning Albanus Bussullus, the prefect of the local peoples (Capillates, Savincates, Brigani and Quarians). This ancient vestige, probably reused in situ, highlights the site's seniority.

The chapel was restored and decorated in 1818 (date painted on the vault), with a 17th century wooden altarpiece and a pink marble pavement of the Queyras. Despite work in 1985, it remains a matter of concern. Ranked a Historic Monument in 1932, it symbolizes both the Alpine religious heritage and the historical strata of the region, from antiquity to modern conflicts.

The adjacent medieval cemetery and surrounding substructures attest to its central role in the community. At the beginning of the 20th century, a board porch still protected the entrance, reflecting local adaptations to the harsh weather conditions of the Queyras.

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