Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Crépol bell tower, also known as the Cemetery Tower, is a medieval building located in the commune of Crépol, in Drôme (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes). Built in the 15th century, it was the bell tower of Saint-Étienne's Romanesque church, shaved in the late 19th century. This monument, classified as a Historical Monument in 1956, is the only vestige of the ancient church, bearing witness to the religious architecture of the time.

The ground floor of the tower houses a chapel dedicated to Saint-Jean-Baptiste, founded in 1482 by Jean Bastard de Chaste. The walls preserve 15th century frescoes, including the Annunciation (south wall), the Tree of Jesse (north wall), and representations of women in Hennins (east wall). These paintings, protected by a ranking in 1956, illustrate medieval sacred art and the influence of local sponsors.

The tower, opened on the old cemetery by an arcade, has a vault on cross of warheads. His murals, although partially erased, offer a rare glimpse of the religious decoration of the late Middle Ages in Dauphiné. The property now belongs to the municipality of Crepol, and its state of conservation remains monitored by the heritage services.

Available sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum) highlight its historical and artistic importance, while noting uncertainties on certain details, such as the accuracy of its geographical location (estimated at 6/10). The bell tower of Crepol thus embodies a fragile heritage, linked to the seigneurial and religious history of the region.

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