Parish Church of St Peter in Châtillon

Introduction

The parish church of St Peter in Châtillon has a rich and complex history, with its origins dating back to the 12th century. Initially, the building consisted of a single nave oriented along the east-west axis, with the entrance located under the bell tower. During the 17th century, the church underwent significant transformations, including the enlargement of the entrance door through the bell tower, the renovation of the choir and probably the addition of the side aisles.

Description

In 1902, due to the now insufficient size of the church, it was decided to build a new one. The project, drawn up by the engineer Carlo Saroldi, provided for the demolition of the existing building, with the exception of the presbytery, which was transformed into the Chapel of the Sacred Heart. The new church, consecrated on 27 August 1905 by the bishop of Aosta, Joseph-Auguste Duc, presents a structure with three naves separated by red granite columns.
The high altar, made of polychrome marble, comes from the old church and was donated in 1791 by the then parish priest Jean-Jacques Linty. The interior decoration was carried out between 1904 and 1905 by the painters Artari of Verrès, while in 1909 the stained glass windows on the façade were installed, made by the Abbate company of Turin, and a new organ built by Vegezzi-Bossi.
Next to the church stands the bell tower, with a doorway from 1607 at the base with a carved stone lintel, on which the monogram of Christ is engraved. The bell tower dates back to the 14th century and has traces of frescoes from the 16th century. In addition, along the steps leading down from the church to the village, three Roman tombstones with sepulchral inscriptions dating from the 1st-2nd century AD can be seen.