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Origin and history

Saint-François-de-Sales Church, located in Bozel en Savoie, is an emblematic example of Savoyard Baroque style. Dedicated to Saint Francis de Sales, bishop of Geneva at the beginning of the seventeenth century, it replaces an ancient medieval church dedicated to the Assumption, mentioned as early as 1143 under the authority of the bishop of Tarentaise. The parish site would even go back to the fifth century, bearing witness to a long local Christian tradition.

The reconstruction of the present building began in the 18th century after the devastating floods of the Bonnrieu River in 1666 and 1669, which had damaged the old church. The plans were entrusted to master masons of Pussy or Valsesia, and the new church was consecrated in 1755 by Archbishop Claude-Humbert of Rolland. Its double bulb bell tower, characteristic of the alpine baroque, was deconstructed in 1794 during the Revolution and rebuilt in 1824.

During the Revolution, the church suffered heavy damage: its furniture was destroyed and the building transformed into a saltpetre warehouse for the manufacture of gunpowder between 1794 and 1800. The restoration began after the 1801 concordat, with a complete renovation of the furniture around 1830. In 1840, the altarpiece, adorned with a reproduction of a work by Raphael, was installed by the sculptor Pédrino, while the pulpit, carved in 1856 by Duithe, represented the four evangelists.

The expansion of 1876, motivated by population growth, moved the façade and allowed the addition of a span and a new stand reserved for men over the age of 25. The exterior decoration was enriched in 1877 with monumental statues (Elie, Moïse, Sacré-Coeur) and a baroque door typical of Tarentaise. The double bulb arrow was completely renovated in 1978, preserving this unique architectural symbol.

The church houses four bells melted by the Paccard d'Annecy establishments, two of which were acquired in 1820 and two in 1927. His plan combines a four-span nave (including one added in 1876) and collaterals, with a choir of almost square shape. Ranked in Savoyard Baroque tradition, it illustrates the adaptation of Italian artistic forms to the Alpine valleys, while reflecting the historical upheavals of Savoie.

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