The Church of Rougemont located at the entrance to the village seduces people with its beauty and its history.
The Church of Rougemont is a featured asset of the Pays-d'Enhaut region. Small in size, the building is certainly worth a detour for its history and for the beauty of its paintings and stained glass windows. Built in the 11th century by the monks of the Abbey of Cluny (F) at the request of the Count of Gruyère, Guillaume I, it is the first and only convent in the Vaud Alps. It is Roman in style and takes the shape of a Latin cross, facing east. The church was originally dedicated to Saint-Nicolas de Myre, Patron Saint of children and a martyr from the 4th century. Following the bankruptcy of the Count of Gruyère, the region was handed over to the Bernese, who imposed the Protestant reform in 1555. The church then became a temple dedicated to Protestant worship. The castle adjoining the building, now privately owned, was erected around ten years later on the foundations of the destroyed monastery to house the bailiff from Bern.
An architectural jewel
He then transformed the shell of the building. The choir was enlarged. In the beginning, the nave was separated from the aisles by twelve massive pillars representing the 12 apostles, which can still be admired today. A major restoration, carried out from 1919 to 1926, has restored the nobility of the building. It brought out the building’s stonework, then covered with five layers of plaster. The ceiling of the nave was reconstructed with wooden vaulting. The paintings were executed by the painter Correvon, using patterns from the 13th century. The church is now listed as a Swiss cultural building of national importance. Concerts and performances are regularly staged there, especially during the La Folia Festival of Ancient Music, held each year during Pentecost weekend. In addition to Rougemont Church, the village has several old chalets with sculpted pediments and richly decorated façades. The tourist office organizes guided tours with experienced guides on request, enabling you to discover its architectural treasures.
