Going up a couple of kilometers along the road on the left bank of the Dora towards the highest part of the valley, one encounters a junction that leads to Pralavèn, where the remains of some huts are located. There is also a stone pillar built with lime in the second half of the 16th century, richly frescoed: it has a gabled roof, covered with slabs, and a niche inside with a barrel ceiling. It is reported as an oratory (oratoire de Pralavè) in the topographic map of the Cesana and Bardonecchia valleys, dated 1764, as well as in the contemporaneous Avico map.
Frescoed perhaps by several painters of different times, the pictorial ensemble of the Pralavèn pillar is nevertheless of remarkable value and historical-artistic interest. In the background lunette, a beautifully crafted deposition of Christ is depicted, while on the walls forming the vault there are frescoes of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux with a pilgrim, Saint Barbara, Saint James, and Saint Catherine of Alexandria. The frescoes may have been executed shortly after the construction of the pillar: on one of them, the dates 1619 and 1628 have been scratched. The frequently advanced hypothesis of attributing them to the Master of Ramats does not seem sustainable since it seems impossible to date the construction of the pillar to the end of the 15th century.
The frescoes on the walls are divided into two levels, separated by a horizontal cornice: those on the upper part of the wall continue along the vault to its center; those on the lower part are narrower since a masonry platform used as an altar interrupts the two side walls.
On the left wall, the upper part's fresco is quite well-preserved, while only fragments remain of the one below. Above, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux is represented with the devil chained at his feet and to his left, Saint James in a pilgrim's attire with the shell on his hat and staff. Below are two figures not clearly identifiable: to the left is Saint Barbara, as deduced from the palm branch and the three-windowed tower. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux is an emblematic figure of the fight against heresies, and the devil is often used to depict heresy. This iconography suggests that the votive pillar might have been erected to celebrate the defeat of the Huguenot heresy in the upper Susa Valley by La Cazette's army (1570-1580).
On the right wall, Saint Catherine of Alexandria is depicted with broken spiked wheels, symbolizing her martyrdom, and an angel in flight bringing her relief: the preservation is good but has been marred by vandalism. The fresco in the lower part has been lost.
The apsidal fresco depicting the Deposition appears to be by a different hand and perhaps from a different period: the eyes of the faces have been chiseled out (According to Don Francesco Masset, parish priest of Melezet (1945-1987), this happened during the wars between Catholics and Waldensians).
Texts taken from:
Alberto Trivero Rivera (with the collaboration of the Associazione Vivi Rochemolles), *ROCHEMOLLES E LA SUA VALLE: ARCHITETTURA RELIGIOSA*, Edizioni Vivi Rochemolles, 2017.
Restoration work is planned for the summer of 2024. The architectural work will be overseen by Architect Rachele Vicario, the restoration part by RAVA e C. S.r.l. RESTAURO E CONSERVAZIONE OPERE D’ARTE, and the construction work by Ditta Davide Fontan of Chiomonte.
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