Timeline

Origin and history

The Church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Olivier, located in the Meas in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, is mentioned from 1400 under the name "Our Lady of the Oliver". Although its original date of construction remains unknown, it became the parish church in 1530, replacing an earlier chapel. This Romano-Gothic monument embodies the architectural and religious evolution of the region during the Renaissance.

In 1562, the church was destroyed at the same time as the former Saint-Félix church, probably in the context of the Wars of Religion which then stirred Provence. It was rebuilt thirty years later, in 1592, marking a period of renewal for the local community. This reconstruction project reflects the attachment of the inhabitants to their place of worship, despite the disturbances of the time.

The church bell tower, erected in 1560 for its lower part, is a remarkable architectural element. Between 1851 and 1852, it was raised on one floor and equipped with a wrought iron campanile, housing the clock and the village bell. This modification illustrates the adaptation of the monument to the practical needs of the population in the 19th century, while preserving its medieval and reborn heritage.

Available sources do not specify the sponsors or artisans who worked on the construction or reconstruction of the church. However, its history reflects the political and religious upheavals in the region and the resilience of local communities to these challenges. Today, Our Lady of Olives remains a symbol of the heritage of the Measles and the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.

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