Église Saint-Bonet de Villard-de-Lans, Catholic church in Villard-de-Lans, France.
The church of Saint-Bonet stands on Place des Martyrs in the centre of Villard-de-Lans, built of stone with a central bell tower above the entrance. Stained glass windows light the nave, and the main altar carries a mosaic of black and red suns made by an artist from Ravenna.
This church has roots going back before the 10th century as a place of worship in the village. It underwent major reconstruction in the 19th century after being abandoned during the French Revolution.
The church keeps the name of Saint Bonet, a bishop of Clermont who died in 710, and the village fair is still held around his feast day on 15 January. Look for the 15th-century stone tabernacle in the Holy Sacrament chapel, a survivor of the earlier building.
The church sits on Place des Martyrs in the center of town and is easy to reach on foot from most parts of Villard-de-Lans. Services are held regularly throughout the year, so visitors should check ahead to see when the building is open to the public.
The altar mosaic was created by an artist from Ravenna, a city renowned for its Byzantine art traditions. This connection to one of Europe's great art centers makes the altar artwork particularly noteworthy for a small mountain village church.
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