Itineraries of Sacred Art and Architecture
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ITIN ERAS ITINERARIES OF SACRED ART AND ARCHITECTURE SAINT-GERVAIS VALGRISENCHE MONT-BLANC UNION EUROPÉENNE ALCOTRA UNIONE EUROPEA Fonds européen de développement régional Fondo europeo di sviluppo regionale SAINT-GERVAIS MONT-BLANC ITINERARIES OF SACRED ART AND ARCHITECTURE VALGRISENCHE They are part of the landscape here in the mountains, but many pass without noticing them. They are part of our history, but many pass without knowing. They are elements of our cultural heritage here in the Alps. 03 In order to give them their rightful place in the hearts and lives of the loyal inhabitants and one-time visitors who enjoy our land, we created Itineras. INTRODUCTION Preserving and promoting ITINERAS, Alpine cultural heritage > it's a programme designed to promote our heritage by Among those who have chosen creating itineraries of sacred art, to keep tradition alive are the providing information for tourists GREETERS. and encouraging locals—who Volunteer ambassadors, each with their are proud of their history and own style, itinerary, and vision of the traditions—to share their heritage with those visiting Saint-Gervais and area. But they all have the same sparkle Valgrisenche. in their eye that brings their tales to life and will be a beacon during your > it's a partnership between adventures. two regions representing the This sparkle has a name. It is called importance of sacred art and passion. The Saint-Gervais Church architecture in the landscape façade restored in 2016 The Valgrisenche bell tower FRANCE AND ITALY, after restoration of alpine culture. Saint-Gervais A HISTORY OF LANDS les Bains, at the foot of the Mont When you see these two valleys, so Blanc, presents a dynamic balance dominated by the surrounding summits between tradition and modernity, that act as impassable barriers, the and Valgrisenche, the only town Saint-Gervais and Valgrisenche Valleys in the entire valley where mountain seem to go nowhere. culture is deeply rooted. But don't be fooled, even though the > it's an operation to protect the mountains don't meet, mountain men cultural and artistic heritage of and women pay no heed to impassable 04 both towns by restoring structures barriers. Genuine axis of communication and works of art that represent between Italy and Northern Europe, the identity of these mountain these valleys have always been major communities and their special passageways and opportunities for relationship with the sacred heritage exchange. Present on both sides of the that permeates their daily lives. Northern Alps, the Duché de Savoie is one of the most essential crossroads in Europe's history. PRESENTATION OF ITINERAS HERE MORE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE, heritage is sacred Whether made of wood or stone, glass or iron, human nature gives our cultural heritage substance. Based on an ordinary life or major event, reflecting dark or happy of a hamlet or in a winding mountain times, guarding our memory or path, in the heart of a chapel or in a birthing legends, heritage becomes church courtyard, the symbols of our our history. Whether built or created heritage are always located at our by famous masters or unknown crossroads. artists, by one person or an entire They are both real and immaterial, profane community, heritage carries the seal and sacred, singular and universal, past and of interculturalism. future. They are a cross, a chapel, a church, Whether in Saint-Gervais or an altarpiece... Valgrisenche, at the entrance And because there is undeniably so many tales to tell, we wanted to give FROM PROFANE TO SACRED, THERE IS JUST ONE STEP them the floor. So listen! They are Popular alpine culture has always been based on profane and sacred connections. talking about us, about you. A large part of the everyday lives that are lived here were surrounded by religion—and its cousin, the supranatural—and were part of some of the most concrete aspects of life. It was to mark the community's attachment to spirituality that these mountain dwellers invested astronomical sums in building religious edifices. The contrast between the luxury of the monuments—in flamboyant baroque style— and the overly modest homes will surprise many of you. But beyond religious symbolism, churches, chapels, and bell towers represent the community's cultural heritage: one that is passed on through the generations as a symbol of cohesion. 05 SACRED HERITAGE A 40 SNCF LE FAYET SAINT GERVAIS, PASSY Fayet Church the sky is the limit LE FAYET Berchat Oratory OE Mont Paccard S SAINT-GERVAIS MONT-BLANC If is, of course, the Mont Blanc, The la Vignette Thermes Protestant Church Church Car Park Montjoie Theatre Espace Mont-Blanc Chapel with its whopping 4,808.73 m in Bettex gondola lift Chapel City Hall Pile Pont Expo departure station elevation. MEGÈVE Saint-Gervais Oratory Cemetery Museum of Sacred Art Fortified house in Hautetour Saint-Gervais is very happy to Church Cupelin be home to the “Roof of Western Cupelin Vieux Pont du Diable Cross TMB station Thermal baths Châtelet ruins Chapel Le Nérey Europe”, but it is also the departure Oratory point for the North West Ridge route SAINT-GERVAIS Tramway du Mont Blanc (TMB) Tourist O ce Beaulieu to climb the Mont Blanc. La Toile Le Vernay It is also Le Fayet, Saint-Nicolas de Chapel Véroce, and Le Bettex in Pratz which form Les Pratz the balconies and panoramas to the Arrêt Col de Voza TMB 1653 m Chapel Mont Blanc range, with villages that Le Gollet in Montivon Montivon Bellevue bustle all-year round and original Les Bernards itineraries that are impatient to be Saint-Gervais is also the Evasion Champoutant Col du Mont Lachat 2073 m Chapel Gollet walked on. Mont-Blanc ski area with over Chapel It is also the spring water Bionnay that has 400 km of pistes, giving access to La Combe Chapel L Megève, Combloux, les Contamines, e been supplying the thermal resort B o La Combe n N a BIONNASSAY n Bionnay for over 200 ans. Thanks to its and La Giettaz, and including, LE BETTEX t Chapel Les Plans therapeutic benefits, Saint-Gervais of course, Les Houches / Saint- Taguy Chapel Chapel Chapel is the biggest mountain thermal Gervais, which provide access to the in Les Plans at Bionnassay resort in the Alps. In a style that is Chamonix Valley. Chapel its own—bringing together the fun To climb the mythical mountain, of the Chattrix Champel Chapel of sliding down a mountain with the the Tramway du Mont-Blanc—the Le Champel thrills of swimming through a river highest train in France—connects and creating a cohabitation with Saint-Gervais to the Nid d'Aigle at Saint-Nicolas ski lifts and buildings from La Belle an elevation of 2,372 metres, right Cross of the Church Plateau de la Croix 06 Epoque— next to the Bionnassay glacier. Saint-Gervais is also culture, ST-NICOLAS-DE-VÉROCE with Chapel in Véroce numerous events that rhythm the four seasons. Festivals, expositions, La Gruvaz concerts, museums, etc. Chapel A thousand and one ways to experience the village and the locals' pride in their cultural heritage and history, all while keeping a keen eye Miage Oratory to the future! LES CONTAMINES- MONTJOIE SAINT-GERVAIS REGION A 40 SNCF LE FAYET PASSY SAINT-GERVAIS Fayet Church LE FAYET Berchat Oratory OE Mont Paccard S The la Vignette Thermes Protestant Church Church Car Park Montjoie Theatre Espace Mont-Blanc Chapel Bettex gondola lift Chapel City Hall Pile Pont Expo departure station MEGÈVE Saint-Gervais Oratory Cemetery Museum of Sacred Art Fortified house in Hautetour Church Cupelin Cupelin Vieux Pont du Diable Cross TMB station Thermal baths Châtelet ruins Chapel Le Nérey Oratory SAINT-GERVAIS Tramway du Mont Blanc (TMB) Tourist O ce Beaulieu La Toile Le Vernay Chapel in Pratz Les Pratz Arrêt Col de Voza TMB 1653 m Chapel Le Gollet in Montivon Montivon Bellevue Les Bernards Champoutant Col du Mont Lachat 2073 m Chapel Gollet Chapel Bionnay La Combe Chapel L e B o La Combe n N a BIONNASSAY n Bionnay LE BETTEX t Chapel Les Plans Taguy Chapel Chapel Chapel in Les Plans at Bionnassay Chapel of the Chattrix Champel Chapel Le Champel Saint-Nicolas Cross of the Church Plateau de la Croix ST-NICOLAS-DE-VÉROCE 07 Chapel in Véroce La Gruvaz Chapel Miage Oratory LES CONTAMINES- MONTJOIE MAP OF SAINT-GERVAIS SAINT-GERVAIS AND SAINT-PROTAIS CHURCH Four centuries of history. TOP 2C PICK TIME WORKED ITS MAGIC Among some of the remarkable elements here, you can admire my altarpiece on the high altar, which survived the 1792 fire and was restored by Jean Eichorn at the start of the 19th century. Through centuries and cultures, this altarpiece also inspired the Dominican priest, Kim En Joong—in charge of creating my new stained glass windows— who speaks of it in these words: "As the baroque altarpiece in this church sings of joy and faith, may my stained glass windows sound in harmony with it." THE SAINT-GERVAIS CHURCH, FRESH AS NEW "Admit it! After seeing my bell tower and splendid outside façade, after lingering in front of my paintings, stained glass windows, and altarpiece, you must be saying that at over 400 years old, I'm pretty well conserved! It would be better to say that I was pretty well restored. The work was performed from March to December 2016 for the Itineras project and was genuinely rejuvenating. IN MOURNING FOR OVER 400 YEARS And the original polychrome paintings found on Discovered during restoration work, the my inside walls or the funerary frieze discovered Anselme family's funerary frieze—a family under my façade's plaster won't disagree.