Montcherand, Vaud (Switzerland) - Apse

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The Cluniac Priory of St. Stephen has been a pivotal landmark since ancient times, situated at the convergence of three significant pilgrimage routes: the Camino de Santiago, Via Francigena, and Great Itinerary of Cluniac Sites. One possible explanation is that an early 12th-century pilgrim traveling to Compostela may have created the initial mural during his journey. As a result of the Calvinist Reformation movement in 1536 and the subsequent Bernese occupation of the region, Catholic churches were mandated to whitewash all murals, thereby preserving this particular artwork. This mural is notable as the oldest example in French-speaking Switzerland featuring human figures in religious art. In 1902, a chance discovery revealed the existence of blue paint beneath the whitewashed surface. Two subsequent restorations took place, first in 1979 and again in 1991, to ensure the artwork's longevity.