MOUNTAIN PARTNERSHIP ALLIANCE OF UNITED NATIONS RECOGNIZES NATURAVALP AS AN EXCELLENT MODEL OF MOUNTAIN TOURISM
MOUNTAIN PARTNERSHIP ALLIANCE OF UNITED NATIONS RECOGNIZES NATURAVALP AS AN EXCELLENT MODEL OF MOUNTAIN TOURISM
THE PARISH OF VALPELLINE
Founded in 580, it was the first in the whole of Valpelline, from which the parish churches of Doues, Bionaz, Ollomont and Oyace were subsequently built. The baroque church was built in 1722. Patron saint: Saint Pantaleon (27th July).
The small museum to the right of the entrance houses various objects of sacred art of considerable historical value: a silver reliquary in the form of a casket dating from the 15th century, a 14th century wooden cross in silver foil which according to tradition was taken from Geneva during the Protestant Reformation, another copper foil processional cross from the 16th century, partly silver-plated and partly gilded, a silver-plated brass thurible with a hexagonal base from the 15th century, a velvet chasuble from the 17th century, the relic statue of St Roch from the 18th century and the relic bust of St Pantaleon.
The chapels were built following the affirmation of Catholicism in Ollomont and Bionaz: the first in the hamlet of Vaud was built in 1443, in 1570 in the hamlet of Clapey in the valley of Ollomont,Notre-Dame-des-Neiges which is located in the hamlet of Vignettes founded in 1665 or 1655 by Jacques Bondaz (according to the legend Mr Jacques was attacked by brigands and, having a large sum of money with him, tried to escape, making a vow to build a chapel dedicated to Our Lady if he managed to save himself). The chapel of Saint-Roch in the hamlet of Semon, founded in 1640 by the inhabitants following the plague, with devotion and piety and celebrated on 16th August, the chapel of Sainte-Barbe in the hamlet of Thoules, a chapel that already existed before 1600 but which suffered serious damage due to a fire in the entire village and was rebuilt in 1663. In 1905, a large boulder fell from the mountain and destroyed the chapel, without damaging the houses below. It was rebuilt between 1912 and 1913.
Of the original eight bells in the bell tower, only one unfortunately remains. Seven bells were cast on 8th February 1880 to be turned into cannons, a strong omen of the impending French Revolution.
The only surviving bell is called La Granta (the big one) by the locals. It dates back to 1736 and bears the following inscription: "I call the people, I gather the clergy, I make the festivities happier, I flee the storms, I mourn the dead".
THE PARISH OF BIONAZ
The parish church of Bionaz, dedicated to Saint Margaret, was built in 1694. On the outside of the church there are paintings and frescoes by the painter Ettore Mazzini (buried in the cemetery of Bionaz) depicting the figure of Saint Margaret. Inside the church we find the high altar, carved in wood and decorated with columns partially covered in gold, some statues in baroque style restored in 1990. In the centre is a painting of the coronation of the Virgin Mary, St Joseph, St Margaret, St Anthony, St Pantaleon and a deacon saint.
The left side altar has a 17th century statue of the Madonna and Child in Baroque style, surrounded by fifteen medallions depicting the mysteries of the Rosary. On the left wall is the Baptismal Font, with its painted wooden part from the beginning of this century and a large altarpiece that was part of the church's first altar.
In the small showcase-museum inside the church, a number of sacred art objects are displayed, including a chasuble from the 17th century that belonged to the La Lechère chapel. It was a gift from the Archbishop of Paris, Monsignor Leclerc de Juigné, who fled his diocese during the French Revolution and crossed the Col Collon to take refuge in Bionaz.
Also inside the parish church, you can admire the statue of Saint Margaret sculpted by local sculptor Ettore Bionaz.
Five votive chapels can be visited within the parish territory of Bionaz. The chapel of Chentre, built in 1641, whose patron saint is "Saint-Roch", celebrated on 16th August. The "La Serva" chapel, located in the hamlet of Rey. Built in 1710, then renovated in 1958, it is dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows (5th August). The chapel of Pouillaye, the chapel of La Lechère, dedicated to "Saint-Roch" and Saint Barbara (16th August), also restored in 1998.
Behind the parish church of Saint Margaret there is still an old stone building called the "Batise". This structure, built in 1795, was restored by the current owner, the Bionaz municipality, thanks to a contribution obtained with the "Jubilee of 2000" and with its own funds, and today serves as a modern youth hostel.
THE PARISH OF OYACE
In the municipality of Oyace there is a main church and two chapels, one in Verdonaz and the other in Chalambé. The church is dedicated to Saint Michael, who is venerated twice a year: on 8th May and 29th September.
Oyace became an autonomous parish in 1775 thanks to Monsignor Peter François de Sales. In 1788, the church was completed, taking the place of the chapel dating from around 1550. In 1617, the Marquis of Romagnano, governor of the Duchy of Aosta, recounted how the inhabitants of Oyace, prevented by winter, were forced to place the dead in the snow, only to take them to the parish of Valpelline for burial in spring. Inside, there are frescoes from 1914 by the painter Margotti. One of these depicts the multiplication of the loaves with Christ seated in Les Iles, a village in Oyace. The high altar is in Baroque style, but the original angels are missing.
The chapel in Verdonaz, at 2317 m altitude, dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows, was built in 1942 with stones found on site, joined by lime and cement transported by mule from Oyace. It was built by Amato Rosset of Quart, as thanks to the Madonna for the priestly ordinations of his sons Camillo and Giulio, which took place in 1939 and 1942. In August 1980, Giulio and Camillo donated the chapel and 500 square metres of land to the church of Oyace. In 1992, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary, an iron cross weighing 7 quintals, forged in Saint-Pierre, was placed near the small sacred building, on which a copper Christ was placed. Every year on 5 August, a mass is celebrated in honour of Notre-Dame-des-Neiges followed by lunch organised by the Oyace pro-loco.
The chapel of Chalambé, built in 1784, was renovated in 2008. Every year on Easter Monday, a procession is organised starting from the church of Saint Michael and arriving at the Chalambé chapel where a Holy Mass is celebrated with a final auction. On the walls of the chapel, a message can be read "O reine immaculée etends ta main sur la vallée", which means "Immaculate Queen, protect the valley". Near the chapel, an old fountain carved into the rock dating from 1784 can be seen with a keen eye.
Valpelline All Season
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