The Saint Louis Chapel

In the 16th century, religious wars were raging throughout France. Protestant troops settled in the Queyras valley. In 1561, a Protestant community is formed in Abriès. From 1574 to 1583, altercations occur and in 1587, the Queyras valley becomes Protestant. The Edict of Nantes (1598), established by King Henry IV of France, grants freedom of worship and soothes conflicts. When Louis XIV came to power, he sought to unify the kingdom religiously. After many persecutions, he revokes the Edict of Nantes in 1685. Like the Protestants of France, many Queyrassins (demonym for the people living in the Queyras) decide to migrate to Switzerland, Germany, Latin America and South Africa. The Saint Louis Chapel was built after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes on funds donated by King Louis XIV of France.