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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint-Hippolyte church of Thonon-les-Bains, located in the Grande rue, is a Catholic building of a traditional plan built in the 14th century above a Romanesque crypt. Originally dated from the 12th century, it was profoundly redesigned in the 17th century in Savoyard Baroque style, with exuberant decorations and frescoes. Its history reflects the religious upheavals of the region: papal chapel in 1439, Protestant temple during the Bernese invasion (1536), and then return to Catholic worship in 1594 under the influence of Saint Francis of Sales.

The interior decoration is marked by an Italian studded vault commissioned in the seventeenth century by the abbot of Rossillon de Bernex, brother of the bishop of Geneva. The lateral walls of the nave house a fresco of the Creed, while the choir illustrates the life of Christ. These works, restored in 1941 by Henri Lafitte, reveal apostles with their attributes and angels, in a style evoking Poussin. The stuccos were executed by J.F. Silva and Bernard Pandolph, and 17th century chandeliers, restored in 2009-2010, now illuminate the building.

Ranked a historic monument on October 30, 1909, the church houses remarkable furniture: a 19th-century studded wooden high altar imitating marble, and three paintings around the altar (Holy Family, Nativity attributed to Lange, Annunciation). About twenty objects are classified, bearing witness to its rich artistic heritage. The frescoes, rediscovered in 1941, were hailed by the local press for their quality and style close to the great masters.

The building, owned by the municipality, illustrates the architectural and religious transitions of Chablais, between medieval heritage, Italian Baroque influence and modern restoration. Its two crown chandelier (16 and 8 branches) and the luminaires added in 2010 highlight the studded ceilings, while the Romanesque crypt recalls its origins. The work of 1941 and 2009-2010 preserved this jewel of Savoyard heritage.

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