Saint Sebastian of Plampinet Church

Built in 1510, this Romanesque-style church topped by a bulbous bell tower contains magnificent 16th-century murals, including the Passion cycle in 21 panels.

Description

Built in 1510 in the Romanesque style, it is surrounded by a small wall that encloses the old cemetery of Plampinet. The beautiful cross placed on a sandstone pedestal, called the Cross of "Mélézets" comes from the bas-relief school of the small Italian village of the same name located on the other side of the Col de l'Échelle.

Before discovering the frescoes inside, take the time to observe:
the sundial above the entrance porch, in Louis XV style is the work of the local painter Hippolyte Laurençon; it bears a maxim urging to avoid sin "Remember your last hour and you will never sin". (This dial, contemporary with the two mechanical clocks visible on the tower, allowed to adjust these since it did not disrupt over time).
The bell tower, dating from 1602 (redone in 1749) of Romanesque-Lombard style is easily recognizable thanks to its bulb covered with slates from Bergamo. It houses two bells melted by the Vallier brothers of Plampinet, both dated 1731 and 1749.

The mural paintings of the 16th century: the third arched span of the nave contains 20 remarkable panels chronologically recounting the Passion of Christ.

Painted by Italian artists around 1550, these murals were mainly intended to teach all the precepts of the church; the ornamental character playing only a secondary role. Restored twice, the colors used are based on ochres, lead carbonate, copper salt, lapis lazuli and black smoke of vegetable or animal origin mainly.

Environments

• Mountain view
• Mountain location
• Village center
• Lake -5km away
• River -5 km away
• Village -2 km away
• Close to GR footpath

Rates

Free access.

Opening period

The church is only open to the public on the occasion of guided tours organized mainly during school vacations, or by reservation.
During the summer vacations: once a week with Heritage Service guided tours and every weekend with the association for the protection of the hamlet of Plampinet (€5), it remains closed to the public the rest of the year.
For more information on how to visit, please contact the Office de Tourisme des Hautes Vallées - La Clarée.

Location

Documents

• Saint Sebastian of Plampinet Church

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