First citation of the place 1252 (≈ 1252)
Peyresq mentioned in historical documents.
2e moitié XIIe - 1ère moitié XIIIe siècle
Initial construction
Initial construction 2e moitié XIIe - 1ère moitié XIIIe siècle (≈ 1350)
Presumed period of church building.
1351
First mention of the church
First mention of the church 1351 (≈ 1351)
Appearance in the ecclesiastical stilts.
XVe siècle
Nave vault
Nave vault XVe siècle (≈ 1550)
Major architectural modification in stone.
1964
Link to La Colle-Saint-Michel
Link to La Colle-Saint-Michel 1964 (≈ 1964)
Peyresq loses its status as an independent commune.
1971
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 1971 (≈ 1971)
Official protection of the building by order.
1974
Integration in Thorame-Haute
Integration in Thorame-Haute 1974 (≈ 1974)
Permanent connection of Peyresq to this commune.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Church (Box C 221): Registration by Order of 15 October 1971
Key figures
Abbaye Saint-Dalmas de Pedona - Tutelary religious institution
Priory dependent on this Piemonte Abbey.
Origin and history
The church of Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Pons is the parish church of the village of Peyresq, now attached to the municipality of Thorame-Haute in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Originally, Peyresq was an independent commune until 1964, when it was incorporated into La Colle-Saint-Michel under the name of Saint-Michel-Peyresq. In 1974, this territory was finally attached to Thorame-Haute, where it is still present today. The building, oriented and built in the medium apparatus of stoneware, has a unique nave vaulted in a broken cradle and an apse in a cul-de-four.
The church has undergone several changes over the centuries. In the 15th century, the nave was vaulted with stones, and major works took place in the 18th century. Renovations were also carried out in the 19th and 20th centuries. The bell tower, composed of two bays, dominates the wall separating the abside from the nave. The building is surrounded by a cemetery, whose oldest tomb dates back to 1893. The church has been listed as historical monuments since 1971.
The first mention of the church of Peyresq dates back to the stilts of 1351, although the place was mentioned as early as 1252. At that time, it depended on the priory of St. Dalmas Abbey in Pedona (now Borgo San Dalmazzo in Piedmont). Its construction could date from the 13th century, during the second period of expansion of this abbey, perhaps before 1252. The building thus illustrates the historical links between this Provençal region and the Piemonte religious institutions.
The church is distinguished by its architecture adapted to the sloped terrain: the north wall is partially buried, while rocky outcrops appear in the lower parts of the south wall. The bays in the middle, pierced or enlarged later, and the bay cruciferous to the west, testify to the architectural evolutions of the building. The sacristy, disoriented and built by encroaching on the cemetery, adds a peculiarity to this religious ensemble still active in the local landscape.
