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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint-Hippolyte church, located in the Grande rue de Thonon-les-Bains (Haute-Savoie), is a Roman Catholic building of medieval origin. Built in the 12th century above a Romanesque crypt, it is profoundly transformed in the 14th century, then remodeled in the 17th century in Savoyard Baroque style, characterized by exuberant decorations and frescoes. Its history reflects the religious upheavals of the region: the papal chapel in 1439, it became a Protestant temple in 1536 during the Bernese invasion, before returning to Catholic worship in 1594 under the influence of Saint Francis of Sales. Ranked a historic monument in 1909, it now embodies a major architectural and spiritual heritage of Chablais.

The interior decoration of the church is marked by an Italian-style studded vault, commissioned in the 17th century by the Abbé de Rossillon de Bernex, brother of the bishop of Geneva. Directed by the stuccotors J.F. Silva and Bernard Pandolph, it is accompanied by frescoes illustrating the Credo on the side walls and the life of Christ in the choir. These works, rediscovered and restored in 1941 by Henri Lafitte, reveal apocalyptic scenes and an Assumption of the Virgin inspired by Poussin. The chandeliers, restored in 2009-2010, highlight this unique artistic heritage, mixing Italian and Savoyard influences.

The church's furniture has about twenty classified objects, including three remarkable paintings: The Holy Family, The Nativity (attributed to the painter Lange), and The Annunciation, arranged around the high altar. The latter, in studded wood imitating marble, dates from the early 19th century and fits into a classic style sober, contrasting with baroque exuberance of frescoes. The building, with its turbulent history and decorative richness, bears witness to the cultural and religious exchanges between Savoy, Switzerland and Italy throughout the centuries.

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