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Origin and history

The Saint-Martin church of Nernier, mentioned in the thirteenth century in a papal bubble of Innocent IV (1250), was then placed under the authority of the Abbey of Filly. Its origin could go back to an older era, suggested by its patronage dedicated to Martin de Tours. Originally a subsidiary of the church of Yvoire, it was attached to the parish of Messery during the Bernese occupation (1536-1559), when it became a place of Protestant worship. Francis de Sales attempted to convert it to Catholicism in 1594, but the faithful resisted until they were excluded and the construction of a Protestant temple.

The filiation with Messery continued until the French revolutionary occupation in 1793. The present building, rebuilt in 1840, revealed during the works of the ancient tombs, attesting to an ancient occupation of the site. These discoveries underline the historical importance of Nernier, between medieval heritage, religious conflicts and architectural transformations.

Today, the church houses a remarkable painting depicting a Descent of the Cross, a witness to its rich artistic and spiritual past. Its history reflects the religious upheavals of Chablais, between Savoyard influence, Protestant reform and Catholic counter-reform, while preserving material traces of its ancient and medieval anchor.

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