From 24 May to 22 June, the Church of Rougemont will host an exhibition dedicated to the European network of Cluniac sites. Open to the public and free of charge, the exhibition, titled “Cluny #tousconnectés,” offers insights into the life and legacy of the Cluniac Order, which established a network of monasteries across Europe, including Switzerland, from the 10th century onward.

Curated by Anne-Gaëlle Villet and Karina Queijo and developed by the Association du Site de l’Abbatiale de Payerne, the exhibition aims to raise awareness of the Cluniac heritage. It forms part of the campaign to include Cluny and its associated European monastic network on the UNESCO World Heritage list. First shown in Payerne, the exhibition is designed to “travel” – much like the Cluniac monks once did – and will be presented in various candidate locations for the UNESCO listing.

“The Church of Saint Nicholas of Myra, built between 1073 and 1085, is the only Cluniac site in the Alps. Although it was later modified under Bernese rule, it remains a jewel of Romanesque art, uniting religious and cultural heritage,” notes the Church of Rougemont.

As the church has for 25 years hosted the La Folia Baroque Music Festival, it was only fitting for the festival organisers to bring the exhibition to Rougemont. The initiative is supported by the Municipality of Rougemont, the Regional Nature Park Gruyère Pays-d’Enhaut, the local tourism and economic development office, the committee behind Rougemont’s UNESCO candidacy, and the Swiss Cluniac Sites Association.

Organised by Association La Folia, the exhibition can be visited daily during church opening hours (8:00 to 20:00). It features a series of panels exploring various aspects of the Cluny mother abbey and its cultural legacy, which took root in hundreds of locations across medieval Europe. Special focus is placed on the three Swiss sites: Rougemont, Payerne, and Romainmôtier.

Certainly — here is a more fluid and editorial-style rewrite, suitable for an article in GstaadLife:

Rougemont Church: A Cluniac Legacy in the Alps

Built around 1080 by Cluniac monks, the Church of Rougemont is a rare architectural gem — the first and only priory founded by the Order in the Lake Geneva Alps. Dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Myra, the 4th-century martyr and patron saint of children (celebrated on 6 December), the church stands as a testament to both spiritual devotion and Romanesque design.

Constructed in the classic Cluniac style, the church follows the form of a Latin cross. Its nave is flanked by side aisles, the choir ends in three apses, and a square tower rises above the transept to house the bells. Originally topped with Burgundy-style roofs, the structure was altered during the Bernese occupation, when the priory was dismantled and a castle for local bailiffs built alongside. The original roofs were replaced with steeper pitches typical of the Bernese Oberland, better suited to alpine weather.

A major restoration between 1919 and 1926 revealed the building’s stonework, hidden for centuries beneath five layers of plaster. The nave ceiling was reconstructed with wooden beams, and decorative wall paintings — inspired by 13th-century motifs — were added by artist Correvon, reviving the church’s medieval character.

Today, Rougemont’s Romanesque church remains not only a place of worship but also a living symbol of cultural and architectural heritage in the heart of the Alps.