Baroque art in Haute Maurienne Vanoise
Haute Maurienne Vanoise... A Mecca of Baroque art!
Push open the doors to discover Baroque art treasuresThe churches of Haute Maurienne Vanoise are particularly distinctive, with their massive appearance and "Lombard" style bell tower topped by a spire surrounded by four small "clochetons". While the exterior may appear a little austere, simply push open the doors to discover Baroque art treasures.
Twisted columns, chubby cherubs, murals, baroque altarpieces bursting with gold and color, the chapels and churches of Haute Maurienne Vanoise reveal flamboyant interiors.
Witness to a popular mountain faith, some twenty chapels and churches dating from the 16th century to the present day dot the villages, hamlets and roadsides.
Some are open all year round, such as the Notre-Dame de l'Assomption church in Aussois, or the recently restored Val Cenis-Lanslevillard church, with its magnificent murals. Others are only open for guided tours (in Avrieux and Val Cenis-Lanslevillard, for example), but all offer nuggets of Baroque art that must have been a foretaste of paradise.
Val Cenis-Termignon
Notre Dame de l'Assomption Church
It was in the 17th century that the small 13th-century edifice became the imposing building it is today: its five carved, gilded and polychrome wooden altarpieces make it one of the most remarkable churches in the Maurienne. Let yourself be seduced!
Val Cenis-Lanslebourg
Notre Dame de l'Assomption Church
Although built between 1820 and 1830, the church remains true to the contrasts of the Baroque spirit: beneath its austere appearance, it conceals a richly decorated interior. Let yourself be surprised by the harmonious cohabitation of masterpieces from different centuries.
Avrieux
Saint Thomas Becket Church
A heritage guide will open the magnificent Baroque church of Saint Thomas-Becket, one of the finest examples of Baroque art to be found in our mountain valleys, in every one of our churches decorated in gold, light and color.
Le Bourget
Church of Saint Pierre aux liens
Like its cousin Saint-Julien de Villarodin, Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens is nestled in the heart of the village. It's easy to find, however, thanks to its white bell tower decorated with "Lombard stripes" and its slate roof.
Villarodin
Saint Julien Church
Nestled among the village's houses, the church stands out with the tufa-tiled spire of its bell tower. Like a lighthouse, it will help you find your way through the maze of buildings!