Mère Église en Dévoluy, Romanesque church in Dévoluy, France
Mère Église en Dévoluy is a Romanesque church perched on a rocky outcrop above Saint-Disdier village, with a three-part nave topped by barrel vaults and a bell tower marked by paired windows. The structure sits on an elevated position above the surrounding landscape, making it visible from far below.
The building dates to the 11th century and was handed over by the Bishop of Gap to the Cluniac priory of Saint-André-les-Gap in 1080. This connection to a major monastic community shaped its early importance and religious role in the region.
The interior walls feature painted scenes from the 16th century showing the Last Judgment and the four evangelists, while a wooden gallery above displays decorative motifs in a traditional local technique.
You can reach the church via the D937 road near Saint-Disdier-en-Dévoluy or by following the marked GR 93 hiking route. The site sits on a hilltop, so expect some steep climbing and wear suitable footwear for the terrain.
Excavations between 1966 and 1972 uncovered fortification remains and an ancient burial ground with roughly 1500 skeletons around the grounds. These archaeological discoveries reveal that the site held importance long before the church itself was built.
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