Parish Church of Sant'Ilario

The church overlooks the main village of Gignod from an elevated position along the route of the Via Francigena.

The church of Gignod is mentioned in a papal bull issued by Pope Alexander III in 1176. However, the present building appears to date no earlier than the 15th century. This dating is supported not only by the architectural structure of the building but also by several remarkable frescoes discovered during restoration work in 1895.

The bell tower was built between 1481 and 1485 by a master builder from Gressoney, Yolli de Vuetto, who had just completed the bell tower of the nearby parish church of Étroubles.

Particularly noteworthy are the 15th-century frescoes: on two arches of the right nave are depicted the Crowned Virgin and several prophets holding scrolls with Gothic inscriptions. On the rear wall is the Pietà fresco, featuring Saints Sebastian, George, Francis, Mary Magdalene and another figure that has since disappeared. This section of the church once housed the chapel of the noble d’Avise family, then lords of the area.

Also of great interest is the fine Baroque walnut-wood altar, placed on a stone altar dating from 1456, with a statue of Saint Hilary in the centre and statues of Saint Gratus and Saint Victor on either side.

A beautiful 16th-century stained-glass window, originally located on the church façade, features the coat of arms of the Lords of d’Avise within a central medallion surrounded by four smaller roundels depicting Saint Hilary, patron saint of the parish, Saint Nicholas and Saint Catherine. An inscription also commemorates the patrons of the work, Stefano d’Avise and his wife Pernette, who lived during the 16th century.

A small museum of sacred art, located to the right of the high altar, displays objects and documents from the church itself and from the chapels of the neighbouring villages.

Among the exhibits are a statue of a monk saint and a bust of God the Father (15th century), a 15th-century Madonna and Child, a polychrome statue of the Virgin from the chapel of Variney (14th century), processional crosses in silver sheet decorated with crystals and enamels (15th century), and an 18th-century silver reliquary.