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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens de Quintenas Church, listed as a historic monument in 1910, is an emblematic building of the Ardèche heritage. Its construction dates back to the 12th century, with a Romanesque part still visible today, including the abside and the left arm of the transept. The tower, imposing and fortified, illustrates the Gothic additions of the fourteenth century, reflecting a troubled period marked by the looting of mercenaries and defensive needs. The thick walls, machicoulis and gargoyles recall its religious and protective role.

In the 16th century, the Wars of Religion damaged the building, requiring restorations, especially in the 17th century with the addition of the Chapel of the Penitents (1684). The 12th century frescoes, the 17th century murals, and the coat of arms of the Peloux family bear witness to its rich past. Father Toussaint Bobichon undertook in the 19th century a major restoration: enhancement of the walls, renovation of the roof, and consolidation of the fortified facade, inspired by the Papal Palace of Avignon. The stained glass, statues and retables (including a 17th century classified) complete this heritage.

The church was a priory dependent on the abbey of Saint-Claude as early as 776, confirmed by Frédéric Barberousse in 1184. It became a strategic issue during religious conflicts, then a parish place after the Revolution. Its choir, rebuilt in the 20th century, houses modern liturgical elements (ambon, altar), while its bells, traditionally dedicated to civil and religious bells, always rhythmize local life. Today, it is part of the parish of Saint-François Régis of the vals of Ay and Daronne.

The murals combine religious motifs (Abraham's sacrifice, verses of the Gospel of John) and plant decorations, while the 12th century Romanesque capital and Gothic gargoyles highlight its architectural eclecticism. Successive restorations, including those of Fine Arts in 1981, preserved its oldest elements, while adapting space to liturgical developments, such as the reform of Vatican II in the 1960s.

Its history also reflects the social transformations of the region: from a medieval priory to a castle appreciated by the family of Tournon, then to a parish church animated by parish priests or presbyteral teams. The classified objects, such as the 17th century altarpiece, and the local archives (Statutes of the Church of Vienna, Carolingian donations), make it a privileged witness to the religious and civil history of Upper Vienna.

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