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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Église Saint-Étienne de Laval-en-Belledonne, located in the Isère department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, is a building originally dating back to the 12th century. It underwent architectural changes in the 15th and 17th centuries, reflecting the stylistic evolutions of the Romanesque era in modern times. The church is particularly well known for its Alleman chapel, founded by the Alleman family, which houses a 15th century mural depicting the Virgin of Mercy, also called Virgin in the mantle. This fresco, originally measuring 4.80 m tall for 7.20 m wide, was allegedly commissioned in memory of the 161 Dauphinian gentlemen who died at the Battle of Verneuil in 1424, including four members of the Alleman family.

The Alleman chapel, rectangular and vaulted on cross of warheads, is adorned with this fresco which depicts the Virgin extending her coat lined with hermine above a crowd of kneeling knights. Four angels hold the Marian coat, while two others support the Virgin's crown. On the right, Saint Catherine observes the scene, all of which is set on a red background sown with golden lily flowers. The lower part of the fresco was damaged by time, but the rest was restored in 1959 by the service of historical monuments.

The church was listed as historic monuments in 2009, while the Alleman Chapel, including the fresco, was classified in 2010. This classification replaced that of 1958, which concerned only wall painting. The building thus illustrates the local history and rivalries between Dauphinese noble families, such as the Alleman and the Commiers, which marked the region in the 15th century.

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