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Origin and history

The oratory of the God of Mercy, located in Buffard in the Doubs department, is a religious building built at the very beginning of the seventeenth century. It is distinguished by its square plan and its vaulted niche in the middle of the hangar, housing a stone statue of the God of Mercy, a Christian representation linked to popular devotion. The ensemble, erected in rubble with a lava cover, illustrates the local construction techniques of the period. Its designation as historic monuments in 2011 underscores its heritage value, both for its architecture and for its role in the cultural landscape of Burgundy-Franche-Comté.

The Oratory was built in 1613, as attests a frieze decorated with volutes bearing the inscription of foundation. Located south of the village on the road to Port-Lesney, it probably served as a place of prayer or a stop for travellers and residents. The statue it houses, described as good and expressive, reflects the provincial religious art of the early seventeenth century, marked by an emotional realism intended to touch the faithful. Its pediment covering and its cradle niche recall the frequent votive edicles in the French countryside of this period.

Filed in full by order of 9 September 2011, the Oratory is now protected for its architectural integrity and its testimony of rural devotional practices. The materials used — stoneware for walls, lava for roofing — bear witness to the local resources and craftsmanship of Franche-Comté. Although little documented about its sponsors or its precise use, this monument is part of a tradition of road doratory, often linked to local legends or divine protections invoked against dangers (epidemics, weather, brigandage).

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