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All French heritage classified by regions, departments and cities

  2. Patrimoine
  3. Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
  4. Savoie

  5. Albertville

  6. Our Lady of the Assumption or Saint-Grat de Conflans

Our Lady of the Assumption or Saint-Grat de Conflans en Savoie

Savoie

Our Lady of the Assumption or Saint-Grat de Conflans


    Albertville
Photo de Our Lady of the Assumption or Saint-Grat de Conflans
B. Brassoud

Timeline

Haut Moyen Âge
Moyen Âge central
Bas Moyen Âge
Renaissance
Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
500
600
…
1000
1100
…
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
Ve siècle
Foundation of the parish
1014
First written entry
1632
Destroyer fire
1701-1720
Baroque reconstruction
1794
Demolition of the bell tower
1804
Reconstruction of the bell tower
3 octobre 1989
Historical monument classification
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

Registered MH

Key figures

Saint Grat d'Aoste - Bishop of the Fifth Century Boss of Conflans and dedication.
Rodolphe III - King of Burgundy Cited in the act of 1014.
Oger Moriset - Bishop of Aosta (1432) Donor of the relics of Saint Grat.
Félix Michel - Master architect Rebuilder of the church in 1701.
Claude-Antoine Marin de Flumet - Sculptor Author of the golden altarpiece (1708).
Jacques Clerant - Craft carpenter Creator of the chair (1718).

Origin and history

The Church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption, or Church of Saint-Grat, is a religious building located in Conflans, the historic district of Albertville en Savoie. It embodies a mixture of Savoyard Baroque and neo-classical styles, built between 1701 and 1720 after a fire in 1632. Dedicated to the Assumption of Mary and Saint Grat of Aosta, it symbolizes the spiritual and architectural heritage of the region, with a history dating back to the fifth century.

The parish of Conflans, mentioned in 1014, was a strategic place at the Franco-Italian border, on the ancient Roman way Alpis Graia linking Lyon to Rome. In 1432, the bishop of Aosta offered relics of Saint Grat to the church, reinforcing his religious importance. Partially destroyed during the French Revolution, it was restored in the 19th century, with a reconstruction of the bell tower in 1804 and repairs around 1850.

The current building, built by master architects Félix Michel, Albert Chiesaz and Pierre Jean Coterlaz, is distinguished by its double bulb bell tower and trompe l'oeil frescoes. Its interior houses a golden altarpiece of 1708 and a carved walnut pulpit, testimonies of Savoyard craftsmanship. Ranked a historic monument in 1989, it remains an emblem of local heritage.

The church survived centuries of political and religious transformation, including the revolutionary dechristianization that damaged its bell tower and retables. These elements were reconstructed after 1815, marking a period of rebirth for worship and sacred architecture in Savoy. Today, its bells, including the Bourdon de Conflans, resonate as an echo of this rich past.

Its historical role extends beyond the religious: Conflans, a former fortified village, was a commercial and military crossroads between France and Italy. The church, by its dominant position on the Albertville valley, embodied both a spiritual landmark and a symbol of cultural resistance for Savoyards, between French and Italian influences.

External links

Page Wikipedia

Nearby establishments