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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Church of St. Sebastian of Ceillac, located in the Hautes-Alpes, is a Catholic building whose construction ends around 1501, as indicated by the inscription Anno Domini MDI engraved on the lintel of the southern gate. Consecrated in 1532 or 1542 according to the sources, it illustrates an evolutionary architecture, marked by enlargements (notably in 1667) and changes until the 18th century. Its bell tower-wall, accessible by a rectangular turret, and its vaulted nave in a broken cradle reflect late regional influences, while the chapel of the Penitents, perpendicular to the nave, bears witness to the importance of the local brotherhoods.

The interior decor combines Gothic and Baroque elements: the vault of the choir, at a dogive cross (XIII-15th centuries?), contrasts with the high altar in 19th century white marble. The 16th century frescoes dedicated to Saint Sebastian and the 1739 sundial (renovated in 1994) highlight the religious vitality of Ceillac. The fire of 1738, damaging the roof and the bell tower, and subsequent restorations (like the clock in 1872) reveal a community attached to its heritage, despite the geographical isolation of the Southern Alps.

Classified as a Historical Monument in 1979, the church preserves traces of murals and a wooden statue of Saint Anne at the entrance of the choir. Its hybrid architecture — a mixture of Romanesque, Gothic and classical styles — and its successive developments (the Rosary Chapel transformed into a sacristy in 1911) make it a witness to the liturgical and social adaptations over more than five centuries. The larch shingles covering the building also recall local constructive traditions, linked to alpine forest resources.

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