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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Church of the Visitation-de-Notre-Dame, located in Quintal in Haute-Savoie, is considered the oldest building in the department. A lumbar print visible on its outer apse suggests an origin dating back to the late 10th or early 11th century. This architectural detail makes it one of the oldest churches in the diocese of Annecy, bearing witness to a deep medieval history.

Between the fourteenth and seventeenth centuries, Quintal and its church were linked to the Puy-en-Velay seigneury, a period marked by external influences on the region. The building, which was listed as a historical monument in 1986, underwent major changes, especially in the 19th century, where its bell tower was restored and enhanced, while the walls of the nave, partly of origin, were consolidated.

The church is distinguished by its structure consisting of a square bell tower, a nave, a crusillon transept and a semicircular apse flanked by two apsidioles. It houses two remarkable bells: one fondue in 1796 by Pitton and Paccard (350 kg), the first bell of this dynasty of fondeurs, and the other, more imposing (550 kg), made in 1817 by Antoine and Jean-Pierre Paccard. These sound and architectural elements underline its heritage and cultural importance.

The presence of a Lombardy imprint, characteristic of primitive Romanesque art, reinforces the hypothesis of a high medieval foundation. This style, rare in Savoy, bears witness to cultural and religious exchanges between the Alpine regions and Northern Italy during this period. The church thus embodies a local and transalpine heritage, marked by centuries of religious and seigneurial history.

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