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Origin and history

The church of Sainte-Marie-de-l'Assumption of Peille, located in the Alpes-Maritimes, has its origins in the 12th century. Originally occupied by secular priests, she briefly passed under the control of the Templars before being entrusted to the Canons of Saint-Ruf d'Avignon, then adopting the rule of St Augustine. A papal bubble of Anastase IV in 1154 confirms this dependence, while tracing its possessions. The conflicts between the bishop of Nice and the abbey of Saint-Pons for his property were repeatedly arbitrated, notably in 1143 and 1215, consolidating his status under the episcopal authority.

In the 14th century, the church became parish after the ruin of the old local church. Its architecture combines a 12th century Romanesque nave and a Gothic collateral added to the 14th century, reflecting its functional evolution. Interior decorations, such as 16th-17th century murals and a altarpiece by Bertone Honoratus (1479), bear witness to its rich artistic heritage. The suppression of the canonical of Saint-Ruf in 1654, followed by the secularization of the priory, marked a turning point: the premises became presbytery before being abandoned in 1870 for being outdated.

Ranked a historical monument in 1925, the church preserves traces of its turbulent past, from medieval pontifical bubbles to architectural transformations. Its Lombard Romanesque bell tower and its defensive elements recall its central role in the religious and social life of Peille, between Nice and Provencal influences. The property of the church, often disputed (notably by the abbey of Saint-Pons or the bishop of Vintimille), was finally fixed by a bubble of Innocent VIII in 1488, sealing its medieval heritage.

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