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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Maxime de Beaufort, mentioned since 1171 in a papal bubble of Alexander III among the four churches of Luce, finds its origins in the evangelization of the Doron Valley in the fifth century. According to tradition, Maxime, disciple of the noble Roman Honorat, would have converted the Ceutrons, local Celtic people, thus founding a parish with unique peculiarities: until the 16th century, his parish priest was elected by the inhabitants, and only priests from Beaufort (Altarians) could serve there, serving the 12 secondary altars and chapels of the valley.

The current construction dates mainly from the 17th century, replacing an earlier wooden building. Between 1656 and 1670, major expansion works were carried out with the voluntary participation of the population: addition of lateral naves, reconstruction of the choir, and elevation of the bell tower arrow (48 meters). The surrounding villages provided materials (slates, lime, walnuts) and labour, while women carried 15,000 buckets of water and 14,000 sand loads. The altarpiece, carved by François Cuenot (1657-1659), and the pulpit to be preached by Jacques Clairant (1722) are among his Baroque jewels.

The bell tower, often associated with a Syrian legend of the 10th century (argued by historians), was partially destroyed by a fire in 1705, then threatened with destruction in 1793 by revolutionaries. The Beaufortains violently opposed its demolition, obtaining its conservation thanks to the intervention of Claude-Antoine Ducis. The church, classified for its pulpit to preach, today embodies a religious and community heritage marked by medieval self-management and Savoyard Baroque art.

Architecturally, the building imposes an imposing but elegant mass (Garin Chanoine, 1939), with a sober walnut facade carved of daisies and a portal topped by a statue of St Maximus. The square bell tower, 2.70 metres thick at its base, features three clock dials and dominates the city from its rocky spur. Inside, the 12 secondary altars recall the historical parish organization, while the walnut panelling and woodwork of the 17th century bear witness to local know-how.

Oral tradition evokes a controversial Muslim past: the bell tower would be a 10th century Saracen tower, erected during Arab invasions, with a kharad (tax) paid by the inhabitants to preserve their freedom of worship. However, historians like Olivier Hanne see it as a feudal tower linked to the installation of mountain lords. This legend illustrates local stories mixing history and myths, typical of alpine valleys.

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