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Origin and history

The church of Sainte-Rosalie, originally called the Church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption, is a 12th-century religious building located in Tourrette-Levens, Alpes-Maritimes. It is considered the oldest church in the region and has a baroque style. Originally, it was placed under the name of Saint Saviour or the Transfiguration, before being dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Saint Rosalie, patron saint of the village since 1631.

In 1048, Rostaing d'Apt, lord of Tourrette, gave up part of his land and the local churches to the abbey of Lérins. In the 12th century, the church was rebuilt with a nave and a vaulted apse. It was enlarged in the 18th century with the addition of side naves in 1722 and 1792, and its decoration was inspired by Italian baroque, influenced by the Hospitallers of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, owners of the premises.

In 1631, after an epidemic of plague, the parish placed itself under the protection of Saint Rosalie of Palermo, and an altar was dedicated to him from 1658. In 1661 the church took the name of Sainte-Marie-de-l'Assomption. In 1866, the nave was extended, the apse redeveloped, and a sacristy was built. The bell "Anne Marie Rose", melted in 1866, was repatriated from Algeria in 1974 after being installed in a church transformed into a mosque.

The building was added to the Supplementary Inventory of Historic Monuments in 1937. Major restorations take place between 1999 and 2004, preserving its architectural and historical heritage.

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