Church of the Visitation of Mary en Savoie

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Origin and history

The Church of the Visitation of Marie de La Vernaz is a Catholic building located in Haute-Savoie, in the commune of La Vernaz. It is dedicated to the Visitation of the Virgin Mary, a biblical episode marking the meeting between Mary and her cousin Elizabeth. Its architecture and history reflect the religious and community evolution of this Alpine region, with major transformations in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The parish of La Vernaz, initially dependent on Biot, gained its autonomy in the 18th century. A first chapel, established on the lands of the Rovoree family, precedes the construction of the present church. In 1652, a second chapel was built and dedicated to the Visitation of Notre-Dame. The total independence of the parish was acquired in 1803, after the consecration of the church by Bishop de Rossillon de Bernex, bishop of Geneva, on December 19, 1727.

The present parish church from this chapel underwent modifications and enlargements between 1886 and 1892. Several restoration campaigns marked its history, notably in the 1960s and between 2015 and 2017, where the roofs, facades and bell tower were renovated. These works demonstrate the local attachment to the preservation of this religious and architectural heritage.

Before 1724, the spiritual service of La Vernaz was provided by the parish priest of the Biot, who only went there four times a year. The achievement of a permanent parish priest that year marked a turning point in parish life, strengthening the church's anchor as a spiritual and community centre. The building remains today a symbol of the religious and social history of Haute-Savoie.

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