Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church Saint-Pierre de Puy-Saint-Pierre is located in the heart of the village, on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Durance, in the Hautes-Alpes. Surrounded by a fence wall housing the cemetery to the south, it consists of a unique nave facing east-west, a polygonal choir, and several annexes: a western porch, a lateral sacristy, two symmetrical chapels, and a slightly oblique bell tower. The facades, without ornamentation, contrast with a fully coated interior, where only the pillars and doubles of the choir are painted in false marble. The bell tower, with two floors of twin windows in the middle, is surmounted by an arrow covered with modern shingles.

The building of the church may be back in the 15th century, but a major overhaul took place in the 16th century, as evidenced by an inscription near the door. The bells, which came down in 1793 at Briançon to be melted "for the needs of the nation", were replaced in 1808. The big bell, broken on 1 November 1848, was recast the following year. These events illustrate the political and religious upheavals that marked the history of the monument, especially during the French Revolution and Restoration.

Classified among the Historical Monuments by decree of 29 August 1989, the church belongs to the commune of Puy-Saint-Pierre. Its architecture blends medieval elements (coils, doubles) with later additions, such as shingle cover. The site, although poorly located according to the databases (estimated at 5/10), remains a testimony of local religious and artisanal practices, from the work of penitents to reconstructions related to conflicts.

External links