Event

Lesdiguières and the Wars of Religion

Period

in 1562

Location

Unknown location

Source

Source : Paul-Louis Rousset, Au Pays de la Meije – Diocèse de Gap-Embrun – Müller Hippolyte, Quelques notes sur la Grave et son canton (1913)

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Event narrative

Between 1562 and 1598, Dauphiné was ravaged by the Wars of Religion. Towns and villages changed sides according to sieges, and Oisans did not escape the chaos. In this troubled period, a feared figure emerged: François de Bonne, future Duke of Lesdiguières, leader of the Protestant party in Dauphiné. He stayed several times in Villar-d'Arène and even went so far as to buy the two communes on November 6, 1593. These tensions directly affected the inhabitants: two Gravarots, André Charpe and Jean Pic, were killed during the Saint Bartholomew's Day massacre in Lyon, on August 27, 1572. In this context, the hamlet of Les Terrasses became the main gathering place for the Huguenots of the community. There was even a Protestant temple there, proof of the importance of the Reformed movement in the valley.