Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

Saint-Barthélemy Church, located in the former commune of Granier (now integrated in Aime-la-Plagne en Savoie), has its origins in the 14th century. The first written mentions appear under the names Ecclesia de Graneriis (1344), then Ecclesia parrochialis Graneriorum (1608). The parish was created in 1344 after its detachment from Aime, with a first document evoking the expansion of a pre-existing chapel. This religious site, under the patronage of Saint Barthélemy, reflects from its beginning a local community structured around its faith.

In the 16th century, the building underwent a major reconstruction in a baroque style, marked by its consecration on October 7, 1538. A century later, profound changes were undertaken, leading to a new consecration in 1673 by the Archbishop of Taraise. The choir, originally designed according to a medieval cul-de-four plan, was rebuilt in 1647 in a baroque style inspired by the Saint-Laurent church of Montgirod. These transformations illustrate the Church's adaptation to the artistic and liturgical developments of the time.

The 18th century saw the addition of emblematic elements, such as the altarpiece of the high altar (1677), carved by Jacques Antoine Todesco, or the tuffed arrow of the bell tower (1732), the work of master mason Pierre Martinet. A chapel dedicated to Saint Barbe, founded in 1477, bears witness to local devotion. These successive adjustments, punctuated by consecrated works (notably on 27 May 1729), underline the lasting importance of the church in Granier's community and spiritual life.

Today, the building embodies a remarkable example of Savoyard Baroque art, mixing medieval heritage and innovations from the 17th and 18th centuries. Its history, documented by prizes and acts of consecration, offers valuable insight into religious and architectural practices in Tarentaise. The repeated work reflects both the liturgical needs and aesthetic aspirations of an active parish, inserted in the diocese of Tarentaise and then the archdiocese of Chambéry.

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