Oratoire Saint-Gras de Bonneval-sur-Arc, Historical oratory in Bonneval-sur-Arc, France

The Oratoire Saint-Gras de Bonneval-sur-Arc is a small religious building located in the upper Maurienne valley with architectural features typical of seventeenth-century Alpine structures. The construction displays simple, practical design suited to mountain conditions, with interior and exterior elements common to chapels of this era.

The oratory was built in the seventeenth century as a place of worship in this isolated mountain valley. It was inscribed as a monument historique in 1980, a status that recognises it as evidence of the valley's religious life.

Saint Gras, to whom the oratory is dedicated, is venerated in the Maurienne as a protector of livestock; his feast day is 7 September. The building stands among the paths linking Bonneval-sur-Arc with the hamlets of the upper Arc valley, and its dedication recalls the pastoral life of the valley's families.

The oratory is located within the village of Bonneval-sur-Arc and can be reached on foot from the village center. It is best visited in good weather, as the paths in the area are hilly and sometimes steep.

The oratory stands at the edge of the hamlet, where the path to the alpine pastures begins, and its position marks the boundary between the built village and the grazing land above. Look for the small bell niche above the door, a feature shared with the valley's other wayside chapels.