Church Sainte-Marie Madeleine

The neo-Gothic church of Praz sur Arly is located in the heart of the village. Very different from the traditional baroque churches that we are used to see in Haute Savoie, it is no less interesting!

The first stones were laid in 1643, in the form of a chapel, dedicated to Saints Bernart and Magdeleine. Over time the village continues to expand and the population increases. As a result, in 1696 the chapel was enlarged and became the church of Sainte Marie Madeleine, united with that of Megève. She changed statue on August 4, 1803, at the request of the bishop, and became parish. During the revolution, the building suffered many damages, so on July 4, 1880, a consultation was opened to define a real renovation project, with the will to know the opinion of the Pralins and especially to amortize the costs. So we had to re-create from the old. The parish priest Pierre Marie Mugnier, his vicar Abbé Masset, and a strong involvement of the local population (donations, volunteer craftsmen of all trades, etc.) have made it possible to realize this project. In 1881, the final decision on the renovation plan was officially made. Date found engraved in stone above the main door of the building. Thus, the present church was completed in 1887 according to the wishes and goodwill of the pralins. The cemetery occupied the south side of the church until 1975, when the graves were raised and moved to the new cemetery on the Tonnaz road. Over the years, the building has aged, but successive municipalities have ensured its maintenance: copper bell tower, restoration of the grandstand, restoration of the stained glass windows and follow-up of the exterior walls, waiting for a more complete restoration of the interior in the 1950s and in 1964.