Church of Saint John the Baptist en Savoie

Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste de La Perrière, located in the former Savoyard commune now attached to Courchevel, embodies the Alpine Baroque art of the Tarentaise valley. Its exterior architecture, sober and stripped, contrasts with a richly decorated interior, typical of the post-Concile churches of Trento. The present building, rebuilt in the early eighteenth century, replaces a Romanesque building mentioned in 1226 under the name of Sancti Joannis in terrade Allodiis, then integrated into the Allues community. The separation of La Perrière des Allues took place in the 17th century, marking its religious and administrative autonomy.

The church underwent a major transformation from 1718, on the order of the archbishop of Tarentaise, to conform to the baroque precepts of the Council of Trent. Consecrated in 1729, it was partially damaged by a fire in 1728, then its bell tower, destroyed in 1754, was rebuilt. In the 20th century, restorations revealed its original masonry, especially at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games, where outer coatings were removed.

Inside is a major altarpiece dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, accompanied by statues of Saint Grat and Saint Guérin, who protect crops and livestock. The central canvas, painted in 1772 by Pignol, dominates a choir adorned with neo-classical lateral retables and a carved pulpit. A rare canvas depicting the Holy Trinity under an original iconography (three identical characters with a tiara) completes this set. Nearby, a 19th century tombstone, originally confused with a Gallo-Roman vestige, honours Victor Emmanuel de Quarty, a young philanthropist who financed local works.

The architectural style of the church, marked by a bulb bell tower and a basilical plan, reflects the alpine adaptations of the baroque. Its bell tower, shifted from the nave, recalls the Romanesque heritage of the original building. The sobriety of the northern facade, exposed to the weather, masks an exuberant interior decoration, illustrating the dualism characteristic of Savoyard religious art.

The tombstone of Victor Emmanuel de Quarty, a member of a noble lineage of the Lower Valais, offers a complementary historical testimony. Born in 1814 and died at the age of 19 in La Perrière, this generous bather — term designating a curist of the local thermal baths — bequeathed funds for the construction of a church in Brides-les-Bains. His funerary monument, in eroded stone, was long unknown before being identified through family archives.

The church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, classified among the emblematic buildings of Savoy, illustrates the evolution of religious and artistic practices in the mountains. Its history, marked by reconstructions and philanthropic gifts, makes it a symbol of the cultural and spiritual heritage of Tarentaise.

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