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Origin and history

Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul des Hières Church is a Catholic church located in the hamlet of Les Hières, in the commune of La Grave (Hautes-Alpes), in the diocese of Gap and Emprun. Founded in the 15th century, it was built on the bases of a primitive chapel, while the parish of Heières was separated from that of La Grave. This place of worship reflects the religious and social transformations of the region after the wars of Religion, marked by tensions between Catholics and Protestants.

At the beginning of the seventeenth century, the building was rebuilt and enlarged, as evidenced by the square bell tower dated 1607. The latter, inspired by Lombard models, has gelatin windows and a characteristic frieze, evoking that of the main church of La Grave while distinguishing itself by its posterior style. The nave, vaulted in cradle thanks to a plastered lattis, and the cul-de-four choir illustrate the constructive techniques of the era, mixing simplicity and religious symbolism.

A remarkable element of the church is a 20 cm-diameter window inserted into the choir, representing the arms of France and Navarre surrounded by the necklaces of the Holy Spirit and St Michael. This rare iconography in the region probably commemorates the peace recovered after the wars of Religion, which deeply marked the valley. The building, owned by the commune, was listed as a Historic Monument in 1991, highlighting its heritage and memorial importance.

The interior consists of a arched sacristy in cul-de-four, a choir in cradle and a nave with a false vault. The IHS monogram, present twice, recalls the Christian devotion of the community. The bell tower, with its three-tiered tower, dominates the landscape and serves as a historic landmark for the hamlet of Heières, testifying to the spiritual and architectural anchoring of the region.

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