Saint-Michel Church

Let’s take a moment to talk about the small Saint-Michel church, right here on the square. It’s a listed historic monument, and it was built in a style known as Savoyard Baroque. That’s a form of art and architecture that developed in the former Duchy of Savoy, starting in the mid-1500s. But the story of Chamonix’s church goes back much further—almost a thousand years, in fact. It all started at the end of the 11th century, when the Counts of Geneva—who ruled this region for about 300 years—donated the Chamonix valley to a Benedictine abbey. That abbey, called Saint-Michel-de-la-Cluse, was located in what is now northern Italy, in the Piedmont region. To take care of their new Alpine territory, the monks sent a small religious community to settle here. And that’s how the Chamonix priory was born. They built the first church, dedicated to the Archangel Saint Michael—protector of mountains and travelers. Over time, the priory lost its importance, but the church remained, gradually becoming the main parish of Chamonix. Of the original building constructed by the Benedictines in the 11th century, only the bell tower remains today. The church you see now was first rebuilt in 1707, and then expanded and renovated several times over the centuries. Every year on August 15th, the square in front of the church hosts the traditional Fête des Guides—a ceremony that honors mountain guides who have passed away, and welcomes the newest members of the Chamonix Guide Company. If you’re curious to take a look inside, the church is open daily from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.