Church of Saint-Laurent
The Church of Saint Laurent, located in Crots in the Hautes-Alpes, dates from the fourteenth century. Different architectural styles can be observed: initially Romanesque, the church contains Gothic and Lombard elements. Six lateral chapels, four of which were added later, punctuate the vaulted nave. The building also contains two processional crosses and two paintings that are classified as Historical Monuments.
About this building
Located in Crots in the Hautes-Alpes, the Church of Saint Laurent, funded by the monks of the abbey of Boscodon, was built in the 14th century and underwent various changes and restorations, notably in the 17th century during the Counter-Reformation.
Initially Romanesque, the church was decorated with Gothic elements over time. Some elements of the building were added later, such as the grandstand larch (eighteenth century) and the two stained glass windows over the door (nineteenth century). The Lombardy inspired steeple was built in 1828. Another feature of the parallelogram-shaped building is its north-south orientation, uncommon in the Middle Ages, probably due to the the small size of the site, marked by ramparts.
The church is notably composed of a vaulted nave in cradle with broken arch, divided into three bays; there are six lateral chapels which mark each of the spans of the nave: four were added after the construction of the building, changing the initial plan which was in the form of a Latin cross. The entrance is of Romanesque style with a semicircular door, which is supported on each side by two recessed columns adorned with carved capitals. This entrance was formerly preceded by a stone porch that was demolished in the nineteenth century.
The church has been part of the Historical Monuments since 1978 and contains several classified objects dating from the seventeenth century: two processional crosses and two paintings, one representing the Assumption of the Virgin, the other the Martyrdom of St. Lawrence.
