Discover Épersy

The parish church of Saint-Maurice, the Croix Durand and the Lavoir du Novelet represent different facets of Épersy: church architecture, a dated cross structure and a small pond. Historical place names, the area’s former agriculture and the southeastern boundary along the Monderesse and Sierroz rivers provide further context. If you’re looking for a hotel in Épersy, these topics can help you choose a destination that suits your interests.

Saint-Maurice: Building History and Architecture

The parish church of Saint-Maurice was rebuilt between 1862 and 1864 by contractor Jean Buffet of Saint-Félix (Haute-Savoie). The plans were drawn up by diocesan architect Joseph Samuel Revel of Chambéry. This places the reconstruction between two specific years and identifies both the contractor and the architect. Architecturally, the church is Neo-Gothic and has the ground plan of a Latin cross. This describes the overall layout. The entrance features further details: a pointed arch, continuous mouldings and a tympanum with coloured glass. At Saint-Maurice, the cross-shaped ground plan and the design of the entrance are thus two distinct architectural aspects.

Historical Names and Local History

Place names, too, trace a history spanning several centuries. A historical form of the name was Spartiacum in the 11th century, Spartziacum in the 12th century and Epersiacum in the 17th century. The spellings differ, and their dates provide a brief chronological overview. Épersy’s origins probably date back to Roman times. This possible early origin should be distinguished from the later forms of the name: the three recorded spellings belong to the 11th, 12th and 17th centuries. A cautious assessment of the beginnings and specific place names assigned to particular periods thus sit side by side.

Croix Durand and Lavoir du Novelet

The Croix Durand stands beside the Route du Chef-lieu on a two-tiered square platform. It bears the date 1878. According to oral tradition, it was erected by conscripts of the 1870 war in gratitude for their safe return. The date and the story of its construction have different statuses: 1878 is marked on the cross, while the story about its construction is explicitly passed down as oral tradition.

The Lavoir du Novelet offers a different architectural feature. It is also known as the “source des oiseaux” and is a small pond bordered by slanted stone slabs. Here, the focus is on its compact form and edging. The southeastern boundary of Épersy is important to the landscape: it first follows the course of the Monderesse, then the Sierroz. The Monderesse flows into the Sierroz.

Historic Landscape and Cycling

Agriculture is also part of Épersy’s historical character. In the 17th and 19th centuries, the area was considered well cultivated, with wheat, rye and oats, as well as cattle and sheep farming. The variety of fruit grown at that time included walnuts and chestnuts. Crops, livestock and fruit show different aspects of this agricultural history; the periods mentioned clearly place them in the past.

The Les 3 Chevreuils mountain biking loop is 12 km long and has 205 metres of elevation gain. Distance and elevation gain describe different aspects of the route. If you’re including cycling in your travel plans, you can compare these two figures separately with the time you have available and your personal touring preferences.

When choosing a hotel in Épersy, the focus of your stay can help you decide: local history and architecture, landscape or cycling.

Discover more destinations: Entremont-Le-Vieux, Villaroger, Hermillon, Saint-Avre, Montmélian, Saint-Sorlin-Darves, Arith, Saint-Marcel.

For the broader travel overview: Savoie.