HERITAGE - baroque churches

LES CONTAMINES-MONTJOIE HERITAGE

Immerse yourself in the history of the marvellous churches and chapels here and learn how the builders lived and thought. They have left "small outposts for the soul", foretastes of paradise which today provide comfort, a feeling of serenity or simply the spectacle of fine architecture.
With guided tours, exhibitions and museums in the surrounding area, in Les Contamines-Montjoie there is no shortage of things to do and see ... but before you do anything else go and see our absolute gem: Notre-Dame de la Gorge, a baroque church rebuilt in 1699. This is bound to whet your appetite for a visit to the Baroque trail.

The construction of the church was completed in 1759, as shown on the four cast-iron tie rods at the corners of the façade. The church's interior was not finished at this time, and its interior decoration dates from 1847. It also did not yet have its spire, which was added in 1845. It was the Piedmont master stonemason from Val Sesia, Domenico Gualino, who was given the task of building the church.
The square bell-tower was built on a tower of the ancient Montjoie castle that guarded the entrance to Bonhomme pass. The porch roof informs us that the church is dedicated to the Holy-Trinity, which is an uncommon dedication for a church in this part of Europe.
The funds for its construction came, in large part, from expatriates. The church survived the French Revolution, the annexation (of the Mont-Blanc departement ) and the Napoleonic wars without damage.
The secret of making the original tinplate scales has been lost, so the roofing has been redone with stainless steel écailles (or scales) that do not have the golden hue of the original.
The church was immortalized in 1802 by the celebrated english painter Turner.
Its most recent renovation, after the one undertaken by the Piedmontese in 1882, was carried out by Edouard Borga, in 1976, at the instigation of Abbot Babaz.

Taken from “Les Contamines at the beginning of the century” by an amateur photographer, Dr. Ancelet, the first doctor to live in the village.

CHURCH OF NOTRE-DAME DE LA GORGE

"An extremely ancient place of pilgrimage with a curious Baroque-style oratory, covered with Renaissance frescoes and gilt, in the purest tradition of Savoie's religious heritage..." wrote Roger Frison Roche in Mont-Blanc aux sept Vallées.
The adorable Church of Notre-Dame de la Gorge, a neat white chapel with a painted facade where many young ladies have dreamed of being wed, marks the end of the road and the start of mountain trails and footpaths.
It was rebuilt in 1699 by Jean de la Vougniaz, a master mason from Valsesia who had just finished the reconstruction of the church of Saint-Gervais.
In the XVIIIth century, Notre-Dame de la Gorge became the parish church for all the residents of the valley until the beginning of the XIXth century. But it was also a sanctuary with a strong spiritual influence, devoted to the cult of the Virgin Mary: from time immemorial, each year on August 15th, the pilgrimage to the Gorge draws a host of devotees.
Finally, Notre-Dame de la Gorge is a place of prayer for those making the journey through the Col du Bonhomme. Many a travellers have crossed the threshold of this church either to say a prayer of thanksgiving after a safe journey, or to spend a few moments in prayer before the dreaded departure.

THE ORATORIES OF THE GORGE

When one arrives at the Gorge, one discovers 14 small oratories (or chapels) that dot the path leading to the church. They were built at the instigation of the cleric Gaillard in 1728, primarily to lend even more splendour to the Marian cult already established at this location. The Rosary comprises five “Joyful Mysteries”, five “Sorrowful Mysteries” and five “Glorious Mysteries” that commemorate the various stages of the life of the Virgin Mary.

THE SAINTE-CHAPELLE

Two hundred metres beyond the church of the Gorge, a small rather remarkable chapel is perched on the side of the rockface. The primitive structure was located directly in line with the current chapel. According to tradition, the first hermit to settle at the Gorge selected this site for his hermitage. At the beginning in the Middle Ages, the Sainte-Chapelle became a highly prized place of pilgrimage for the inhabitants of the region.
And even today, on 15th August, Assumption Day, and on 8th September, the anniversary of the Nativity of the Virgin, there is a procession of the faithful from the Church of Notre-Dame de la Gorge to the Sainte-Chapelle, at the end of the service.

A great way to learn about the area's heritage, in the magnificent setting of the Mont-Blanc region.
A 20-km waymarked walking trail linking Combloux, Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce and Notre-Dame de la Gorge via Les Contamines-Montjoie.
Brochure on sale at the Tourist Office.
If you would like to visit the 6 chapels or perhaps one of the 4 churches on the Baroque Trail, and see some delightful chubby-cheeked cherubs and ornate reredos... come on our "Cherub Walk"

- Roman Road at the start of the Gorge,
- The hamlet of Baptieu with its chapel and traditional architecture,
- La Duchère and Le Cugnonnet oratories,
- Alpine pastures at La Balme and Colombaz.

Musée du Val d'Arly (Megève) - Tel.:+33 4 50 91 81 00
This museum, recounting the various aspects of mountain life in the last century, is in a XIXth century farm. There is a large number of artifacts on show, both everyday items and highly original objects.
Main themes: woodworking, farming, dairy work, wool production, winter sports. This museum is there to preserve and educate people about the area's rural heritage.

Musée de Megève - Tel.:+33 4 50 21 21 01
Everything to do with pastoral and rural life in the Megève region.
Exhibition: "Megève : A Showcase of Baroque Art or the XVIIth & XVIIIth century religious art treasures of the parish of Saint-John the Baptist."

Château des Rubins (Sallanches) - Tel.:+33 4 50 58 32 13
Mountain nature centre: understanding all the stages of a mountain trip, from the forest to the alpine pastures and rock faces.

Maison de l'Alpage (Servoz) - Tel.:+33 4 50 47 21 68
Traditional and modern pastoral practices in the alpine pastures of Haute-Savoie, with the history of the Pormenaz pastures.

Musée Montagnard (Les Houches) - Tel.:+33 4 50 54 54 74
The Mountain museum is a testimony to the hard outdoor life of our forefathers.
The museum houses a large collection of artifacts and furniture used up until around 1930.

Musée de l'horlogerie (Cluses) - Tel.:+33 4 50 89 13 02
Travel back in time ... Watch and clock making through the ages: from the XVth century to the present day. Collections of old tools and antique watches.

Musée de la Musique Mécanique (Les Gets) - Tel.:+33 4 50 79 85 75
This museum has a collection of chimes, clocks and musical boxes, street organs, dance organs and merry-go-round organs ... all on show in the context of their era. There's a music room and a concert hall, plus street music and fairground music, 1900's cabaret, and a room of talking machines. Visits with commentary and costumed actors.

Conservatoire d'Art et d'Histoire, Annecy - Tel.:+33 4 50 51 02 33
Art history of the department of Haute-Savoie, a real treasure chest of art collections (Paul Payot, Pierre-Louis-Aimé Chastel, Evariste Jonchère, etc.)

Fondation Pierre Gianadda (Martigny, Switzerland) - Tel.:+41 27 722 39 78