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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Michel-Archange, located in La Turbie in the Alpes-Maritimes, is a Catholic building dedicated to the archangel of Saint Michel. Built between 1764 and 1777, it is part of the Nisso-Ligure Baroque Allegro route. Its location, in the heart of a public park surrounding the Alps Trophy, offers stunning views of Monte Carlo Bay. An inscription attests that its stones come directly from the Roman trophy of Augustus, thus linking its history to antiquity.

The architecture of the church is distinguished by an ellipsoidal vessel extended from a choir to apse, flanked by six arched lateral chapels in a cradle. Its bulb bell tower, covered with varnished polychrome tiles, houses four bells oriented towards the cardinal points, including the famous Santa Maria dated 1774. Classified as a historic monument on 21 January 1938, the church belongs to the commune and is marked by its exceptional furniture, as a Pietà attributed to Bréa or a master altar inlaid with mother-of-pearl from the Abbey of Saint-Pons of Nice.

The church's movable heritage, listed in the Palissy base, includes major works: a canvas attributed to Paul Veronase (Saint Mark writing his gospel), a Flagellation inspired by Rembrandt, and a communion table in onyx and agate. During the Revolution, the high altar even served the worship of the goddess Reason, illustrating the historical upheavals through the building. A choir organ completes this ensemble, strengthening its central role in local cultural and religious life.

Historical sources, such as Charles Astro's work or the inventory files, underline the importance of this church in the heritage of the Alpes-Maritimes. Its integration into tourist routes and its proximity to the Alpine Trophy make it an emblematic place, at the crossroads of Roman, Baroque and contemporary eras. The references to the Ministry of Culture and the departmental archives (DRAC PACA) confirm its status as a protected and studied monument.

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