Abbatial Church of Saint-Chef

Listed as a Historic Monument since 1840, the abbey church of Saint-Chef is a benchmark in France in terms of Romanesque art: typical 10th-century architecture, exceptionally well-preserved Romanesque-Byzantine frescoes and medieval decorations.
The abbey church is the main legacy of the former abbey of Saint-Chef, and its monumental size bears witness to the importance of this site in the Middle Ages.

Built in the 11th century on the foundations of an earlier church, it is in the purest Romanesque style, apart from its portal, which is in the Gothic style.

The abbey church was saved from the ravages of time by Prosper Mérimée, who included it in the first inventory of Historic Monuments in 1840.
Since then, the church has benefited from a programme of conservation and restoration.

In the interests of safety and extreme conservation, the upper chapel, reputed to contain some of the finest Romanesque frescoes in the whole Church, is only open to guided tours of a maximum of 20 people, by prior arrangement, every Sunday from July to October (and all year round, on request for groups).
Information and bookings at the Balcons du Dauphiné Tourist Office.

From April to October, this tour can be combined with a visit to the museum, which is open to the public.