Church of Saint Mary Magdalene en Savoie

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Origin and history

The church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Morzine, located in Haute-Savoie, has its origins in the 15th century. At the time, Morzine was only a modest hamlet dependent on the parish of Saint-Jean-d-Aulps. Thanks to its population growth and its affiliation to the Brotherhood of the Holy Spirit, the community obtained a subsidiary chapel in 1498, then the installation of a permanent parish priest in 1505. A century later, in 1603, François de Sales, then bishop of Geneva, erected Morzine as an independent parish, justifying this decision by distance and population growth.

In 1690, a first church dedicated to Marie-Madeleine replaced the chapel which had become too small. The building underwent major changes in 1734, including the addition of a roof in local slate, a regional innovation, followed by the erection of a bell tower in 1749. The construction of the present neoclassical church began in 1803 on the plans of architect Claude François Amoudruz. Inaugurated in 1806, it preserves only the tower of the old church bell tower.

The interior, decorated in a baroque style by the brothers François and Laurent Baud, is distinguished by its stalls, its cross path and its canvases. The Bauds, local artisans, are a lasting mark of the building's artistic identity. In the 20th century, restorations were carried out between 1968 and 1970 by Hilis Mantilleri, while in 1993 the sculptor Henri Tavernier added six linden statues on the facades. The church also houses a 19th century organ, attributed to the Valaisian Carlen factors, protected for its heritage value.

A symbol of the religious and community dynamism of Morzine, this church illustrates the architectural and social evolution of Chablais, from its parish autonomy to its present role as a place of worship and cultural heritage. Its history also reflects the successive adaptations to the needs of a growing population, as well as the influence of local artisans in its decoration.

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