{"id":45885,"date":"2025-07-24T13:42:13","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T11:42:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.paysdesecrins.com\/my-desire-to\/discovery\/the-waldensians-of-the-pays-des-ecrins\/"},"modified":"2025-08-05T12:28:27","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T10:28:27","slug":"the-waldensians-of-the-pays-des-ecrins","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.paysdesecrins.com\/en\/my-desire-to\/discovery\/the-waldensians-of-the-pays-des-ecrins\/","title":{"rendered":"The Waldensians of the Pays des \u00c9crins"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t The Waldensians\t \t of the Pays des \u00c9crins\t \t <\/h1>\n\t <\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n\t \n
Home<\/a><\/span> My desire to<\/a><\/span> My desire for Discovery<\/a><\/span> The Waldensians of the Pays des \u00c9crins<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

In the footsteps of the Waldensians:<\/strong><\/em> another history of the Alps<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n

In the discreet valleys of the Pays des \u00c9crins, the history of the Waldensians<\/strong> resurfaces. As early as the twelfth century, this religious protest movement took root here, far from prying eyes, in the heart of the mountains. <\/p>\n\n

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It all began in Lyon, around 1170. Pierre Valdo<\/strong>, a rich merchant, chose poverty and preached the Bible in the popular language. Excommunicated in 1184, he inspired a movement called the Poor of Lyon<\/strong>, which reached the Alps. In the fourteenth century, there were many Waldensians in Vallouise<\/strong>, and even more so in Freissini\u00e8res<\/strong>. Their worship was clandestine: night meetings, oral transmission, isolated villages. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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But the Church is fighting back. From 1366 onwards, the ecclesiastical authorities organised a spiritual reconquest. In 1399, the preacher Vincent Ferrier<\/strong> preached in Puy Saint Vincent<\/strong>. Frescoes appeared on the walls of the chapels: painted messages to bring the faithful back into line. <\/p>\n\n

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The Waldensians left neither cathedral nor castle. But their memory is well anchored in the stones and paths of the Pays des \u00c9crins. <\/p>\n\n

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Where to walk in the footsteps of the Waldensians <\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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  • Chapel of Saint-Vincent<\/em> (Puy Saint Vincent) \u2013 frescoes and sculpted lintels<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Church of Saint-\u00c9tienne de Vallouise<\/em> \u2013 visible biblical cycles<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Tournoux, Dormillouse, Val-Cluson<\/em> \u2013 hamlets steeped in history: Ruisseau du Pr\u00eacheur, Clos du Valdois…<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Trail “In the footsteps of the Waldensians”<\/em> \u2013 7 km loop (2h30 \/ +220 m) from Vallouise, with explanatory panels, ruins and superb viewpoints<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Family game booklet<\/em> available at the Tourist Office<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • “Patrimoine Hautes-Alpes” app<\/em> : map, audio testimonies, augmented reality reconstructions. Works without a network. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Take good shoes, a windbreaker, and a little curiosity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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