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Origin and history

The church Saint-Barthélémy is a Catholic church located in the village of Montsapey, Savoie, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. It is dedicated to Apostle Barthélémy and is distinguished by its architecture combining neo-Gothic and neo-Roman styles. Built on a steep slope, it dominates the Maurian valley, at the entrance to it. Its history is closely linked to the evolution of the village, mentioned from the 13th century under the authority of the Counts of Savoy and the Bishopric of Maurienne.

The village of Montsapey appeared between the 12th and 13th centuries, and a first church was erected in the 16th century. In 1762, the village became an independent parish. However, the medieval church, which had become old, was replaced by a new building whose work began on October 25, 1865, under the direction of diocesan architect Samuel Revel and entrepreneur Jacques Gaggione. The work ended on November 14, 1867, with the addition of a sound-shaft to the bell tower in 1868. Financing is based on local taxation, local donations and municipal borrowing. The elements of the high altar, transported by train to Randens, were mounted on the back of men and animals to the village.

The interior of the church was embellished in 1891 by neo-Gothic and Renaissance murals by the Turinese Pierre Moretti, financed by the canon of the Collegiate. The polychrome wooden high altar, dating back to 1875, is decorated with five allegorical statues (l--Esperance, Faith, Charity, etc.) and surmounted by a altarpiece depicting the Martyr of Saint Barthélémy, painted by Pier Celestino Gilardi. Nine neo-Gothic sculptures, works of the Gilardi brothers, complete the ensemble. The altar of the old chapel of the Mollard, transferred to the church in 2006, houses a statue at the feet of which a devil hides.

Ranked a historic monument in 1988 (after an inscription in 1986), the church enjoys major restorations: roofs rebuilt in 1985, interior completely renovated between 2002 and 2003. This work, estimated at 300 000 € between 1985 and 2005, also allows the classification to the Additional Inventory of Historic Monuments of its furniture, including the high altar and side chapels. The local association Montsapey-Avenir-Heritage plays a key role in preserving this heritage.

Architecturally, the church is characterized by a unique nave and a square bell tower. Its neo-Roman-inspired façade features a portal, a triple bay and "lombard" arches. Inside, the vaults are richly decorated with frescoes, while the altar of the Mollard, saved from destruction, adds a historical touch with its painting of Our Lady of the Seven Pains and its polychrome wood sculptures.

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