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Origin and history

The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption of Châbons, located in the department of Isère, was built in 1897 to replace an old building despite its successive restorations. Designed by Joannis Rey, a disciple of Pierre Bossan (architect of the Fourvière Basilica), it is distinguished by an arrowless bell tower, decorated with four bell towers and covered with slates. Its Greek cross plan, rare in the diocese of Grenoble, and its position on a hill make it a visible landmark from the surrounding hamlets.

On 7 August 2020, the church was closed by a peril order due to the critical state of its bell tower, requiring urgent repairs. Thanks to a €300,000 grant from the Fondation du Patrimoine, restoration work is being undertaken, with a planned end in 2025. Despite the construction works, the Masses and religious rites are maintained, stressing its central role in local life.

The building houses four bells, three inherited from the old church: Elisabeth (1830, 1,521 kg), Marguerite (1870, 760 kg) and Louise (1731, 180 kg), while Marie-Antoinette (450 kg) is a gift from Abbé Normand. The stained glass windows, financed by each hamlet of the commune, bear their names, and the wooden Great Christ and the tabernacle come from the original church. The whole reflects the historical attachment of the inhabitants to this place of worship.

Attached to the parish of Notre-Dame de Milin (diocese of Grenoble-Vienne), the church remains a major religious and architectural symbol. Its position on Rue de l'Eglise, east of the city centre, and its domination over the valley of the Bourbre reinforce its anchor in the local landscape. The ongoing work is aimed at preserving this heritage for future generations.

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