Saint-Maurice Church en Savoie

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Maurice de Veyrier-du-Lac, dedicated to Saint Maurice d'Agaune, martyred captain of the Legion Thebéenne, finds its origins in a primitive Romanesque construction. This first building, united in 1397 with the Collegiate Notre-Dame de Liesse, allowed only its bell tower, partially destroyed during the revolutionary annexation of the Duchy of Savoy. Restored in 1820 after the Sardinian restoration, this bell tower is the only vestige of medieval times.

In 1852, the church, threatened with ruin, was completely rebuilt in the ogival style, becoming the first building of the diocese erected in this style in the nineteenth century. Inside, a 15th century polychrome wooden statue, Virgin with the Child, and a baroque painting from the late 17th century, depicting St. Francis of Sales and St. Vincent Marty, bear witness to its rich artistic heritage. A Roman Milemark, dated 307-308 and dedicated to Constantine the Great, was discovered in 1926 in the church, reused as a benigner. Today, exposed to the town hall, it bears an inscription indicating its distance (34 km) from an unidentified city.

Among the protected elements, a 17th century painting, Saint Francis of Sales and Saint Vincent in prayer before the Virgin and Child, has been listed as a historical monument since 2003. This painting, along with its frame, illustrates the artistic and religious importance of the building, marked by centuries of Savoyard and Christian history.

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