Église Saint-Michel de La Turbie, Baroque church in La Turbie, France
Église Saint-Michel is a baroque church with an oval-shaped main hall extended by a semi-circular choir at its eastern end. Its interior features six barrel-vaulted side chapels arranged along the walls.
Construction began in 1764 under architect Antoine Spinelli and was completed in 1777 using recycled stones from the nearby Trophy of Augustus. This practice of reusing ancient materials connected the village's new religious center to its Roman past.
The name honours the Archangel Michael, whose image guards the entrance and speaks to the community's faith in celestial protection. This protective role has shaped the village's spiritual identity since the church was built.
The church welcomes visitors during daylight hours, with extended opening times in warmer months to make the most of natural light. Those wanting to see the interior artworks clearly should visit when the sun is bright, as artificial lighting is minimal.
The bell tower holds four bells positioned to face the cardinal directions, allowing the sound to ring out toward all corners of the horizon. The distinctive bulbous roof is covered with glazed tiles in multiple colours, a choice that stands out against the simpler rooflines of nearby buildings.
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