Saint-Chef, the abbey city

Historic site and monument

Image illustrative — © Office de Tourisme des Balcons du Dauphiné

38890 Saint-Chef

The history of the village of Saint-Chef is directly linked to that of its Benedictine abbey, listed as an Historical Monument in 1840 for its Romanesque church among the oldest in Dauphine and chapel of the Angels, covered with 12th century frescoes.

Saint-Chef's Abbey, through its influence for twelve centuries, has deeply marked the local landscape. The story begins in the hamlet of Arcisse at the beginning of the 6th century, where the young Theudère, a native of the hamlet, decided to leave everything to join the Lérins Abbey.

Ordered in Arles, he returned 'home' to establish four monasteries, including that of Val Rupéen, probably on the site of the current church. Destroyed by barbarian raids, it was rebuilt in 890 by Benedictine monks from Champagne and experienced a remarkable boom.

So much that, in the 11th century, the church was enlarged and highly decorated, in the 12th century, with Romanesque frescoes, illustrating Saint John's vision of the Heavenly Jerusalem, the eternal city. The abbey then extended its patronage to a dozen priories and a hundred parishes in the area.

Becoming a noble chapter in 1536, the remaining twenty-eight canons decided to leave in 1774, to join the abbey of Saint-André-le-Bas in Vienne.

Abandoned, then damaged during the French Revolution, the church was rescued from the ravages of time and men thanks to Prosper Mérimée who created the first inventory of Historical Monuments in 1840. From that point, the church was cleaned up by removing the four metres of earth that had slipped on its northern and eastern flanks, and the Romanesque frescoes were protected.

Practical information

Equipments

Picnic area,
Bar,
Public WC,
Exhibition space,
Book shop,
Orientation board,
Media library,
Restaurant,
Parking nearby

Services

Pets welcome,
Educational visits,
Themed tour,
Tourist routes,
Tourist brochures,
Tourist information,
Guided tours

Theme

Historic patrimony,
Town / Village,
Medieval town

Time schedule

From 01/01/26 to 12/31/26

Monday :

Open
Tuesday :

Open
Wednesday :

Open
Thursday :

Open
Friday :

Open
Saturday :

Open
Sunday :

Open
Jours fériés :

Closed

Prices

Free access. If you want to visit the church :

- access to the lower part of the church is free.
- in the interests of safety and conservation, the high chapel and its famous Romanesque frescoes is only accessible with a guide and by reservation. Guided tours are take place every Sunday at 3:00pm from 12th June to 25th September 2022. For groups, visits are possible all year round (prior booking required). For more information, please contact the Saint-Chef Tourist Information Office.