Collegiate church of Saint-André

Here, opposite the collegiate church of Saint-André, you are in the heart of the Delphinal district, the seat of power of the Dolphins in the Middle Ages. Here, the Dolphin has nothing to do with the eldest son of the King of France. It is the title of the Counts of Viennois. This church was built in 1228 by Dauphin André to serve as a necropolis for his dynasty and to house his chapter of canons, founded two years earlier. Above all, he wanted to assert his power over the Bishop, with whom he shared power over the city. Financed by the proceeds of the silver mines near Alpe d’Huez, the collegiate church was built in a rather unusual context, a few years after the great Grenoble flood. In 1219, a natural dam collapsed causing the town to suffer a major natural disaster, with severe damage and many deaths. The bell tower, being the tallest building in the city at the time, welcomed the first public clock of Grenoble in 1398. It is the only monument built by the former lords of Dauphiné that has remained intact until this day. When Grenoble joined the Kingdom of France in 1349, the collegiate church became the chapel of the new Parliament. Today a simple parish church, it has nevertheless been classified as a historical monument since 2010. Inside, there are no longer tombs of Dauphins as they were destroyed during the Wars of Religions. Instead, you can find the tomb of the famous knight Bayard, the ‘fearless and blameless’. You can also see his statue on the square. Known for his bravery on the battlefield, his integrity and his honour, the knight has become the stuff of legend and is often depicted in literature. He is an emblematic figure of French chivalry.