Saint Peter's Church à La Forclaz en Haute-Savoie

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church Saint-Pierre de La Forclaz, located in Haute-Savoie in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, finds its origins in the 13th century with a first church dedicated to Saint Peter. The present building, in the neo-classical Sardinian style, was erected in 1829 and consecrated on 26 May 1848 by Bishop Louis Rendu. This monument reflects the Savoyard religious architecture of the period, marked by Piedmontese influences after the Savoy's attachment to the Kingdom of Sardinia in 1815.

In 1961, the architect Maurice Novarina undertook a major restoration of the church, then considered to be old. It stripes inside its Baroque and neo-classical decorations to adopt a clean aesthetic, characteristic of the modern religious movement. Novarina also designs some of the furniture, such as the altar, the gallery, and the confessionals, while contemporary artists, Jacint Salvado and François Hugo, contribute to the artistic elements, including abstract stained glass and the mosaic of the choir.

The church is distinguished by its bulb bell tower, typical of the Sardinian style, and its sober interior, dominated by pink marble, oak and iron. The walls, covered with a light grey coating, highlight the rare elements preserved from the 19th century, such as the statues of the Virgin Mary and Saint Francis of Sales. The adjoining cemetery, moved in the 1980s, frees the space around the building, offering a panorama of the Dranse valley of Morzine.

Ranked under the title of Historical Monuments by decree of 6 December 2023, Saint Peter's church illustrates the transition between tradition and modernity in Savoyard sacred art. Its furniture, combining cherry, granite and metal, as well as its abstract works of art, make it a unique example of the liturgical renovation of the twentieth century. The sacristy, raised to accommodate a boiler room, also reflects Novarina's functional adaptations.

The site, owned by the commune of La Forclaz, is part of a mountain landscape near Thonon-les-Bains and the Abbey of Abondance. Its history reflects the architectural and spiritual evolutions of Haute-Savoie, between Sardinian heritage, residual baroque influences and contemporary audacity. The church remains an active place of worship, while attracting lovers of religious heritage and modern art.

External links