Eglise Saint Alpin

The Saint-Alpin church was built at the end of the 12th century, between 1160 and 1170. From this period, only the nave and the central part of the portal remain. The city of Châlons was then booming. Located in the heart of the merchant district, the church was built in place of a chapel.

Remodeled and enlarged in the 16th century, it is the church in Châlons most marked by the Renaissance style. It has the particularity of being attached, to the north and east, to the surrounding residences.

The Chapels

These six chapels were opened when the south aisle was created in the 16th century.

Observe the pavements, the decorations of the altars and the enclosure grilles.

The grisaille windows

The grisaille windows of the transept and the south aisle constitute real transparent paintings. These are the work of a Parisian glass painter, Etienne de la Vallée. The bourgeois of Châlons then commissioned at least four large stained glass windows from him, including the one dedicated to John the Baptist.

With the exception of a few pieces, only white glass painted in grisaille and enhanced with silver yellow was used.

The north aisle

At the time of the construction of Saint-Alpin, the churches were painted both outside and inside. Traces of polychromy were discovered in the early 2000s. The ochre-yellow and ochre-red colours were thus brought back into fashion.

The Renaissance vault

The south arm is very marked by the Renaissance style; watch below the large window the twin arches resting on Doric columns and their pilasters. The vault is remarkable with its keystones taking up the fashion for "cut leathers". The four evangelists are represented there with the symbolism of the mystical lamb in the center.

For a complete and totally free visit, you can discover the Church Saint-Alpin with the free app "ID Vizit", which offers additional information throughout your journey.