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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church Saint-Blaise de Bagnols, located in the Rhône department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, is a religious building whose oldest parts, including the choir, date back to the 2nd quarter of the 16th century (ca. 1530-1540). This choir, vaulted on a cross of warheads, is distinguished by a monolithic pendant vault key decorated with sculptures (Vierge à l'Enfant, Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Agneau Mystique) and murals dating from the late 14th or early 15th century, rediscovered in 1978. The bentier, dated 1535, and the flamboyant reamped bays bear witness to this late medieval period.

The church underwent major transformations: the nave was rebuilt in neo-Gothic style in 1850, while the bell tower, originally dating back to 1735, was modified. Contemporary stained glass windows were added in 2001. The choir, which was listed as a historical monument in 1978, saw its protection extended to the entire building in January 2021. The church houses remarkable furniture, including a 16th century altarpiece, statues in polychrome wood (17th century), and a painting depicting Saint Jerome writing the Vulgate.

Built in yellow limestone from the Golden Mountains, the church illustrates stylistic transitions between the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Its painted decoration, attributable to the end of the 15th century, includes historiated scenes such as the Transfiguration and prophets holding phylacteries. The golden wooden altar, with a leather front of Cordoba, and the cerferal angels complete a rich liturgical ensemble. The building, owned by the commune, remains a major architectural and artistic testimony of the Rhodanian heritage.

The work campaigns in the 15th and 16th centuries shaped the present church, although older elements (paintings of the 14th and 15th centuries) remain. The Hundred Years' War (1453-1473) marked the context of its first construction, while the 19th century enlargements (nef, sacristy) changed its orientation. The restorations of 1978, conducted by Jean-Gabriel Mortamet, revealed medieval frescoes, consolidating its heritage value.

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