Logo Musée du Patrimoine

All French heritage classified by regions, departments and cities

Saint-Hippolyte Church of Thonon-les-Bains en Haute-Savoie

Patrimoine classé
Patrimoine religieux
Eglise baroque
Haute-Savoie

Saint-Hippolyte Church of Thonon-les-Bains

    65B Grande Rue
    74200 Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Église Saint-Hippolyte de Thonon-les-Bains
Crédit photo : Krzysztof Golik - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

Bas Moyen Âge
Renaissance
Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
1439
Papal Chapel
XIVe siècle
Initial construction
1536
Protestant Temple
1594
Return to Catholic Worship
XVIIe siècle
Baroque renovation
30 octobre 1909
Historical monument classification
1941
Restoration of frescoes
2009-2010
Restoration of chandeliers
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

Saint-Hippolyte Church and its crypt: by order of 30 October 1909

Key figures

Saint François de Sales - Bishop and Doctor of the Church Restored Catholic worship in 1594.
Abbé de Rossillon de Bernex - Stucco sponsor Brother of the Bishop of Geneva.
J.F. Silva et Bernard Pandolph - Artisans stucators Authors of studded vaults.
Henri Lafitte - Painter-sculptor restorer Update of frescoes in 1941.
Natacha Mondon et Éric Pierre - Modern restaurants Work on chandeliers in 2009-2010.

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.

External links