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Origin and history

The Saint-Jean-Baptiste church of Saint-Jean-le-Vieux, located in the Isère department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, is one of the oldest Romanesque buildings in the territory. Dating mainly from the first half of the 12th century, it was mentioned in 1115 under the name Sancti Johannis super Domena and attached to the clunisian priory of Domène by Saint Hugues, bishop of Grenoble, at the end of the 11th century. Its Lombardy architecture, visible on the west facade, and its side Romanesque windows testify to this medieval era. The bell tower, roof and sacristy were changed in the 19th century, while 18th century murals, imitating marble, still adorn the choir.

The church was a place of pilgrimage in the 17th and 18th centuries, known for its relics of Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist. The pastoral visit of 1732 noted his dardian cover in ruins, but a satisfactory general condition, with two internal chapels dedicated to Saint Sebastian and the Holy Cross. Closed during the Revolution, she found a resident priest only in 1877, the year of the restoration of the sacristy. Its furniture includes a mysterious 17th-century golden wooden altarpiece, decorated with lily flowers and torso columns, as well as a crypt that was once accessible by a staircase that is now obstructed.

The church is classified as a historic monument by decree of 8 June 2004, and belongs to the commune and is part of the parish of La Croix de Belledonne, in the diocese of Grenoble. Its rectangular plan, typical of Romanesque art, includes a unique nave, a hemicircular apse choir, and a western facade adorned with Lombard arches and carved patterns. The modifications of the 19th century, such as the elevation of the gable wall or the roof of the bell tower, reflect the liturgical and structural adaptations of the era.

The site, perched in the Belledonne massif 30 km northeast of Grenoble, illustrates the medieval settlement of religious buildings in mountainous areas. Its clunisian history, its post-revolutionary transformations and its present pastoral role make it a major witness to the Iserois religious heritage, mixing Romanesque heritage, Baroque decor and contemporary community functions.

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