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Saint Arnould church

Saint-Chaffrey
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Descriptif détaillé

The Saint-Arnoul chapel, situated on the heights of the commune, is reputed to be one of the oldest religious buildings in the Briançonnais. We can reasonably believe that the church was built at the very beginning of the 12th century, or even at the end of the 11th century. The building is best known for the 15th century mural paintings representing the martyrdom of Saint Sebastian and adorning the surfaces of the south side chapel.
An atypical construction, with heterogeneous masonry and built on sediments, the church suffered from disorders linked to the instability of the land and humidity. As part of its restoration, an archaeological excavation was carried out in 2013 by a team from the Archeodunum archaeological investigations company.
The study of the masonry could only be carried out on the foundations and the crumbling facings located at the chevet and north-east of the church. These observations reveal a complex building that has undergone multiple reconstructions and refurbishments. The first chapel was a rectangular nave dating from the 10th-12th centuries. A first chevet and a semi-circular apse were added, followed by a "collateral" building to the north, which can be dated to the end of the 13th and beginning of the 14th centuries. A square construction located to the south of the building, on the shoulder between the nave and the chevet, could correspond to a bell tower. In the 17th century, the southern wall was largely rebuilt (archaeological source: Archeodunum)
But what is this "Saint Arnould born in 136 A.D." that is inscribed on the porch? certainly not ours: The name of our chapel refers to Saint Arnoux de Gap (sometimes spelled Arnoul or Arnulphe). Born in Vendôme, he was the bishop of Gap from 1065 until his death between 1074 and 1079. He is the patron saint of the town of Gap. He came to restore some order to the bishopric of Embrun... Hm.
43 burials have been uncovered. All are simple and primary except for one grave occupied by two immature individuals. The bones are mostly well preserved but a high degree of overlap is noted.
Wall paintings
A side chapel vaulted over tufa crosses, displays eight scenes from the life of St Sebastian, much invoked against the plague, like St Roch.
Near a small window, Sebastian holding a bundle of arrows, appears before Diocletian at the door of his palace.
The emperor wears a Louis XI hat with crowns. Behind him appear the heads of two councillors.
On the vault unfolds the martyrdom of Sebastian, who is then knocked out by two executioners,
t the same time two angels collect his soul in a white cloth.
On the west wall, he appears to a pious woman named Lucine, who then presides over his entombment
The painter shows grace and elegance in the light tones, but he also knows how to give relief and energy to his figures, writes Gabrielle Sentis.
Some resemblances in the treatment of hair, hands, clothes, would lead us to believe that he is also the author of the life of saint Pancrace in the chapel of Villar-Saint-Pancrace, notes Gabrielle Sentis (L'Art en Briançonnais, la peinture du XVe siècle, 1970)
Recent studies show that the chapel of Saint arnoul, as well as the chapel of saint Pancrace, have their murals attributed to the workshop of the Serra brothers of Oulx in the fifteenth century

    Période d'ouverture

    Interior visit of the site currently not possible. Digital discovery only during guided tours by the Serre Chevalier Vallée Briancon tourist office.

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    Guided tours
    Code postal
    05330
    Commune
    Saint-Chaffrey
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