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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Sauveur de Gairaut, located in the eponymous district of Nice, has its origins at least from the 15th century. In 1441, the Nice noble Antoine de Brandis founded a profit there, attesting to an ancient religious presence. The engraved dates of 1628 (door front) and 1741 (side) suggest major reconstruction or development phases, reflecting the architectural and spiritual evolution of the site. The sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Merci, established in 1696, illustrates a local devotion linked to protection against barbaric raids, a major concern for the Niçois of the time.

In the 17th century, the church received significant donations, such as that of the brothers François and André Romagnan in 1654, or that of Jean-Louis Martin in 1757, intended to finance Masses for the inhabitants. In 1772, Canon Jean Garnier (1697–73) left a chapel in Gairaut, among five rural churches in Nice, but its implementation ran counter to the employers' rights of Marie-Madeleine Draghi, widow Thaon. An agreement in 1775 finally allowed the inhabitants to obtain a parish priest in exchange for the maintenance of the building. The church became a parish in 1802 and was classified as a historical monument in 1951.

The building thus embodies the religious and social history of Nice, mixing popular devotion, patronage conflicts and architectural adaptations. Its designation as historic monuments in 1951 underscores its heritage importance, linked to its role in the community and spiritual life of the Niçois neighbourhoods in the 17th and 18th centuries.

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